The dual built-in electric fields across CoS/MoS2 heterojunctions for energy-saving hydrogen production coupled with sulfion degradation

Substituting the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction with the sulfur oxidation reaction can significantly reduce energy consumption and eliminate environmental pollutants during hydrogen generation. However, the progress of this technology has been hindered due to the lack of cost-effective, efficient, and durable electrocatalysts. In this study, we present the design and construction of a hierarchical metal sulfide catalyst with a gradient structure comprising nanoparticles, nanosheets, and microparticles. This was achieved through a structure-breaking sulfuration strategy, resulting in a "ball of yarn"-like core/shell CoS/MoS2 microflower with CoS/MoS2/CoS dual-heterojunctions. The difference in work functions between CoS and MoS2 induces an electron polarization effect, creating dual built-in electric fields at the hierarchical interfaces. This effectively modulates the adsorption behavior of catalytic intermediates, thereby reducing the energy barrier for catalytic reactions. The optimized catalyst exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic performance for both the hydrogen evolution reaction and the sulfur oxidation reaction. Remarkably, in the assembled electrocatalytic coupling system, it only requires a cell voltage of 0.528 V at 10 mA cm−2 and maintains long-term durability for over 168 h. This work presents new opportunities for low-cost hydrogen production and environmentally friendly sulfion recycling.