2D Bifunctional Tungsten Disulfide Embedded with UiO-66 (WS2@UiO-66) as highly active Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting.

Abstract

Effective water splitting by electro catalysts provides greater potential for producing hydrogen fuel in renewable energy devices. To use high-performance water splitting electrocatalysts, an economically stable, viable, and effective electrocatalyst with lower activation potential barriers is usually required. We provide a solvothermal approach to develop of active electrocatalyst (WS2@UiO-66) catalyst for effective and quick hydrogen evolution process. In general, the WS2/UiO-66 heterostructure allows for an efficient water splitting process. The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) may better diffuse and transfer electrons across the heterojunction interface due to the open structure and increased number of active sites of this bifunctional design. A current density of 10 mA/cm2 may be reached in an alkaline solution with the WS2 @UiO-66 by applying an overpotential of just 121.1 mV for HER and 220 mV for OER. Tafel slope values of 272 mV.dec-1 for the HER and OER catalysts are the best. WS2@UiO-66 can also sustain HER/OER activity for 24 hours at a current density of 10 mA/cm2.WS2/outstanding UiO-66 bifunctional catalytic performance can significantly speed up its utilization in overall water splitting. This research might cover the way for new methods to develop and prepare very costeffective energy storage and conversion catalysts.