Synthesis of amorphous MoSx and MoSx/carbon nanotubes composite aerogels as effective hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts

Abstract This work reported the preparation of amorphous MoS x aerogel and MoS x /carbon nanotubes composite aerogels by a modified epoxide addition sol–gel method. In this process, propylene epoxide scavenged the protons from a S–H-contained organic acid ( dl -Mercaptosuccinic acid) and promoted the interactions between (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 •4H 2 O and the functional groups in the organic acid to form a gel. The sulfur and molybdenum contained a wet gel turned into an amorphous MoS x aerogel after supercritical drying in ethanol. Carbon nanotubes can be further incorporated into the aerogel backbone, which can extend the specific surface area and alter the pore structures in the composite aerogels. Such composite aerogels showed good catalytic performance in electrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions. MoS x aerogels can be prepared by the modified epoxide-adding method and showed good catalytic activity toward HER.