Template Synthesis of Hollow MoS2 Microspheres with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution

Novel hollow MoS2 microspheres with enhanced electatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have been synthesized by a facile self-sacrificial template method using MnCO3 spheres as precursor. During a hydrothermal sulfuration process, uniform MnCO3 spheres transformed to MoS2/MnS core-shell structures. After removal of MnS with acid treatment of MoS2/MnS, hollow MoS2 microspheres have been obtained. XRD show that pure MoS2 has been synthesized without any impurity. SEM images show that hollow MoS2 structure is spherical morphology and consisted of many MoS2 nanosheets, which imply more exposed edges and rims of MoS2 nanosheets. The electrocatalytic activity of hollow MoS2 microspheres for HER has been investigated. The results show that hollow MoS2 microspheres have better activity for HER than conventional MoS2 nanoparticles, which imply that hollow MoS2 structures have more active sites for HER. Template synthesis of hollow MoS2 microspheres is a suitable choice for high active electrocatalysts.