MoS2 nanosheets on Cu-foil for rapid electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction

Herein, we demonstrate the MoS2/Cu electrodes for photosensitive electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reac-tion (HER). Liquid phase exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets have been deposited Cu foil by electrophoresis technique for preparation of photosensitive and large area electrodes. Electrodes have shown rapid electrocatalytic HER activity with low over potential of -110 mV in dark and -70 mV vs RHE in illuminating condition. Charge transfer resistance of as low as 4.2 Omega cm(2) is realised which is further reduced to 2.1 Omega cm(2) on light illumination owing to injection of photogenerated electrons. Photosensitive behaviour of MoS2 nanosheets and MoS2/Cu Schottky interface leads to the enhanced rate of electrocatalytic reaction. MoS2/Cu electrode has shown stabil-ity upto 40 h. Present finding encourages the production of clean energy through HER activity speeding up by illumination visible Sun light.