Solar hydrogen generation by nanoscale p-n junction of p-type molybdenum disulfide/n-type nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide

J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Jul 17;135(28):10286-9. doi: 10.1021/ja404851s. Epub 2013 Jul 3.

Abstract

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a promising candidate for solar hydrogen generation but it alone has negligible photocatalytic activity. In this work, 5-20 nm sized p-type MoS2 nanoplatelets are deposited on the n-type nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (n-rGO) nanosheets to form multiple nanoscale p-n junctions in each rGO nanosheet. The p-MoS2/n-rGO heterostructure shows significant photocatalytic activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in the wavelength range from the ultraviolet light through the near-infrared light. The photoelectrochemical measurement shows that the p-MoS2/n-rGO junction greatly enhances the charge generation and suppresses the charge recombination, which is responsible for enhancement of solar hydrogen generation. The p-MoS2/n-rGO is an earth-abundant and environmentally benign photocatalyst for solar hydrogen generation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Disulfides / chemistry*
  • Electric Power Supplies
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Molybdenum / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nitrogen / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxides / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • Oxides
  • Graphite
  • Hydrogen
  • Molybdenum
  • Nitrogen
  • molybdenum disulfide