Defect-rich one-dimensional MoS₂ hierarchical architecture for efficient hydrogen evolution: Coupling of multiple advantages into one catalyst

Optimizing the activity of layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process is generally achieved by improving the electrical transport, intrinsic activity, and/or the number of active sites. However, simultaneously coupling these factors to achieve remarkable MoS₂-based electrocatalysts has been seldom reported. Herein, we report a facile approach to the defect-rich one-dimensional MoS₂ hierarchical architecture (1D-DRHA MoS₂), which synergistically integrate the advantageous structural features of rich defects and one-dimensional hierarchal morphology. Toward HER process, the 1D-DRHA MoS₂ electrocatalyst exhibited an overpotential of 119 mV at 10 mA cm⁻², a Tafel slope of 50.7 mV dec^-1, accompanied by an excellent stability. Notably, the activity is competitive to the state-of-the-art MoS₂-based electrocatalysts for HER. The combination of experimental evidences and density functional theory calculations demonstrated the incorporation of rich defects and one-dimensional hierarchical structure improved electric conductivity, intrinsic activity, and active sites, which together accounted for the boosted HER performance.