Open and close-ended CoMoS_(3) nanotubes for hydrogen evolution in acidic and basic conditions

摘要

Electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) is a promising route to harvest high-purity hydrogen(H_(2)).Efficient and selective energy transformations rely on the development of novel catalytic materials in terms of compositions and structures that survive under harsh conditions.This study focuses on a unique nanostructured CoMoS_(3) catalyst for HER under strong acidic and basic electrolyte.The morphologies of the catalysts are fine-tuned by altering reaction times in a hydrothermal reaction.Limited reaction time generates twisted thin-sheet CoMoS_(3)(12 h),which spins into a nanotube with an extended synthetic time(16 h).As the reaction time increases to 20 h,the CoMoS_(3) composite creates open-ended nanotubes,facilitating reactants to penetrate and react actively in the inner space of the nanotubes.Further,prolonged reaction time(24 h) results in the formation of the close-ended CoMoS_(3) nanotubes.We find out that the open-ended structure plays an important role in achieving fast kinetics as well as creating more active sites in HER reaction.The catalyst delivers a profound performance under both acidic and basic conditions,with overpotentials of 93 mV and 115 mV(at a current density of 10 mA/cm^(2)) in the acidic and basic electrolytes,respectively.Moreover,it shows superior long-term durability in both solutions.This work will provide a great foundation for understanding the morphology effect with the same composited catalyst towards energy conversion reactions,not limited to HER.