Engineering interfacial coupling between 3D net-like Ni3(VO4)2 ultrathin nanosheets and MoS2 on carbon fiber cloth for boostinghydrogen evolution reaction

The use of cheap and efficient electrocatalyst for the production of hydrogen is the key to solving the current energy crisis. Herein, we used a two-step hydrothermal process to fabricate noble-metal-free 3D net-like Ni3(VO4)2 ultrathin nanosheets coupled with MoS2@CFC interface. Unlike the traditional two-dimensional composite materials, Ni3(VO4)2 ultrathin nanosheets intersect with MoS2 nanosheets grown on CFC in a 3D net-like structure (Ni3(VO4)2/MoS2@CFC). Due to the mutual combination of structures and the interfacial coupling cooperation effect between Ni3(VO4)2 nanosheet and MoS2@CFC, the catalytically active area was expanded, and the intrinsic activity toward HER was significantly improved. Ni3(VO4)2/MoS2@CFC showed high activity at the industrial temperature (75 °C), with an overpotential of 77 mV (10 mA/cm2) and a 65 mV/dec Tafel slope. This material showed good stability at 0.5 M H2SO4. This work provides a heterostructure scheme for the construction of a novel noble metal-free electrocatalyst to promote hydrogen evolution reaction.