A solution-processed MoS2/graphene heterostructure mediated by a bifunctional block copolymer as a non-noble metal platform for hydrogen evolution

Andriana Plantzopoulou; Ioanna K. Sideri; Anastasios Stergiou; Martha Kafetzi; Stergios Pispas; Raul Arenal; Nikos Tagmatarchis

doi:10.1039/D2SE00218C

A solution-processed MoS₂/graphene heterostructure mediated by a bifunctional block copolymer as a non-noble metal platform for hydrogen evolution†

Andriana Plantzopoulou,^a Ioanna K. Sideri,

‡^a Anastasios Stergiou,

‡^a Martha Kafetzi,^a Stergios Pispas,

*^a Raul Arenal

*^bcd and Nikos Tagmatarchis

*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, Athens 11635, Greece
E-mail: tagmatar@eie.gr

^b Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain

^c Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragon (INMA), CSIC-U. de Zaragoza, Calle Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

^d ARAID Foundation, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain

Abstract

Development of synthetic strategies towards two-dimensional laminar transition metal dichalcogenide/graphene heterostructures is of particular interest for the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we describe the preparation of a molybdenum disulfide/graphene heterostructure, mediated by a bifunctional polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) block copolymer. Surface engineering of graphene nanosheets by incorporation of ammonium-terminated organic chains facilitated attractive electrostatic interactions with the anionic polycarboxylate block of the copolymer, while the phenyl rings of the polystyrene block of the copolymer enabled the development of multiple van der Waals π–S interactions with the surface sulfur atoms of MoS₂. The heterostructure exhibits excellent HER performance, as a result of the synergistic effect of 1T-MoS₂ loading onto graphene and the latter's charge delocalization efficiency. An onset overpotential value of −0.18 V vs. RHE, a small charge transfer resistance of 36.2 Ω and a large electrocatalytic surface area of 205 cm² were obtained, paving the way for the construction of advanced heterostructures based on graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides with improved electrocatalytic activity.

Supplementary files

Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SE00218C
Article type: Paper
Submitted: 17 Feb 2022
Accepted: 02 May 2022
First published: 02 May 2022
This article is Open Access

Download Citation

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2022,6, 2858-2867

Permissions

Request permissions

A solution-processed MoS₂/graphene heterostructure mediated by a bifunctional block copolymer as a non-noble metal platform for hydrogen evolution

A. Plantzopoulou, I. K. Sideri, A. Stergiou, M. Kafetzi, S. Pispas, R. Arenal and N. Tagmatarchis, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2022, 6, 2858 DOI: 10.1039/D2SE00218C

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications, without requesting further permission from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given and it is not used for commercial purposes.

To request permission to reproduce material from this article in a commercial publication, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party commercial publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Sustainable Energy & Fuels