Re1-xNixS2 nanosheets for high efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution functions

Abstract

Developing a low cost, high efficient and earth-abundant electrode material for electrocatalytic hydrogen evo-lution reaction (HER) still remains challenging. In this regard, nickel modified 1T & PRIME; phase rhenium disulfide (ReS2) nanosheets (NSs) are successfully synthesized on carbon cloth (CC) via one-step hydrothermal process. The optimal Ni doped ReS2 NSs exhibits excellent HER performances, exhibiting substantially low overpotentials of 69 mV at 10 mA cm-2, and a small Tafel value of 90 mVdec � 1 under alkaline conditions. Furthermore, Ni doped ReS2 NSs electrocatalyst delivers outstanding durability in alkaline conditions. The improved electro-catalytic acitvities is ascribed to synergistic doping effect of Ni in ReS2, which creates more exposed catalytic active sites and elevates the conductivity to improve the HER activity. The results highlight the Ni doped ReS2 NSs to be a potential candidate for electrocatalyst in HER evolution.