Ni3S2-MoSx nanorods grown on Ni foam as high-efficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

In order to solve the problem of large overpotential in water electrolysis for hydrogen production , transition metal sulfides are promising bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction/oxygen evolution reaction that can significantly reduce overpotential. In this work, Ni 3 S 2 and amorphous MoS x nanorods directly grown on Ni foam (Ni 3 S 2 -MoS x /NF) were prepared via one-step solvothermal process, which were used as a high-efficient electrocatalyst for overall water splitting. The Ni 3 S 2 -MoS x /NF composite exhibits very low overpotentials of 65 and 312 mV to reach 10 mA cm −2 and 50 mA cm −2 in 1.0 M KOH for HER and OER, respectively. Besides, it exhibits a low Tafel slope (81 mV dec −1 for HER, 103 mV dec −1 for OER), high exchange current density (1.51 mA cm −2 for HER, 0.26 mA cm −2 for OER), and remarkable long-term cycle stability. This work provides new perspective for further the development of highly effective non-noble-metal materials in the energy field.