Constructing MoS2@Co1.11Te2/Co-NCD with Te nanorods for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction and triiodide reduction

Herein, we designed and constructed MoS 2 @Co 1.11 Te 2 /Co-doped nitrogen carbon dodecahedron with Te nanorods (Co-NCD-T) by rational structure engineering. The as-synthesized MoS 2 @Co 1.11 Te 2 /Co-NCD-T composite served as a bifunctional catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction and triiodide reduction reaction. The incorporation of Te nanorods provided additional charge transport channels and subsequently accelerated the electron transport between the electrode and electrolyte. The synergistic effect between Co 1.11 Te 2 and MoS 2 further enhanced the catalytic activity. The MoS 2 @Co 1.11 Te 2 /Co-NCD-T electrode catalyst showed an overpotential of 124 mV when the current density was 10 mA·cm −2 and a small Tafel slope of 49 mV·dec −1 in an alkaline medium. The assembled solar cell exhibited a superior conversion efficiency of 9.00%, significantly higher than Pt (7.32%). The proposed strategy based on rational structure engineering is expected to facilitate the fabrication of hybrids for multi-functional applications.