Recent progress of MoS2 for photocatalytic and electrocatalytic hydrogen generation—A review

Hydrogen (H2) plays a crucial role in the transformation of the energy structure due to its environmental friendliness, renewability and high energy density. The photocatalytic and electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) presents a promising approach for H2 production. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has emerged as a promising catalyst in photocatalytic and electrocatalytic HER due to its high activity, easy preparation and cheapness. However, it suffers from poor stability and inactive basal planes. In this review, we encapsulated the research advancements of MoS2 for photocatalytic and electrocatalytic HER in the past ~10 years. The latest strategies to enhance the catalytic activity of MoS2, such as doping, phase adjustment, surface modification and others, are also summarized. The relationship between structure and activity for enhanced H2 generation by different means is briefly introduced. The challenges and directions of MoS2 materials in photocatalysis and electrocatalysis for HER are also discussed, aiming to provide promising guidelines for future research.