Molybdenum diselenide (MoSe 2 ) for energy storage, catalysis, and optoelectronics

MoSe2 is an engaging member of the family of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), which has recently gained considerable attention for various applications in electrochemical, photocatalytic, and optoelectronic systems. This is due to some worthwhile advantages over similar transition metal selenides and even the widely used MoS2. The layered structure of MoSe2 plus the size and electrical conductivity of Se provide a good opportunity for hosting counterions in electrochemical energy storage systems such as lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. The unsaturated Se atoms at the edge and those at defective points or altered basal plane have superior electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and similar electrocatalytic reactions (e.g., in lithium–oxygen batteries). Furthermore, the tunable band gap of MoSe2 has made it a promising candidate for photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical solar cells. Since all these applications are somehow similar, this manuscript provides an overall perspective on the potentials of MoSe2 in a wide range of applications.