A facile one-step fabrication of a novel Cu/MoS₂ nano-assembled structure for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction performance

The design and synthesis of non-precious-metal catalysts for the efficient electrochemical transformation of water into molecular hydrogen in acid environments are of paramount importance in reducing energy losses during the water splitting process. Here, unique hybrid nanostructures of Cu/MoS₂ have been prepared by a one-pot microwave-assisted synthesis. The resultant nano-assembled catalyst has excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalytic properties, including an overpotential of as low as 120 mV, a Tafel slope of 55 mV dec^-1, and a remarkable cycling stability. The observed outstanding catalytic performance can be attributed to Cu nanoparticles (NPs) that improved not only the electrical conductivity of the catalyst but also the catalytic activity by a synergistic effect with the edge exposed, nano-sized MoS₂. These findings confirmed that this earth-abundant material was a useful catalyst for water splitting.