Advanced 2D molybdenum disulfide for green hydrogen production: Recent progress and future perspectives

The development of renewable and affordable energy is crucial for building a sustainable society. In this context, establishing a sustainable infrastructure for renewable energy requires the integration of energy storage, specifically use of renewable hydrogen. The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of electrochemical water splitting is a promising method for producing green hydrogen. Recently, two-dimensional nanomaterials have shown great promise in promoting the HER in terms of both fundamental research and practical applications due to their high specific surface areas and tunable electronic properties. Among them, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), a non-noble metal catalyst, has emerged as a promising alternative to replace expensive platinum-based catalysts for the HER because MoS₂ has a high inherent activity, low cost, and abundant reserves. At present, greatly improved activity and stability are urgently needed for MoS₂ to enable wide deployment of water electrolysis devices. In this regard, efficient strategies for precisely modifying MoS₂ are of interest. Herein, the progress made with MoS₂ as an HER catalyst is reviewed, with a focus on modification strategies, including phase engineering, morphology design, defect engineering, heteroatom doping, and heterostructure construction. It is believed that these strategies will be helpful in designing and developing high-performance and low-cost MoS₂-based catalysts by lowering the charge transfer barrier, increasing the active site density, and optimizing the surface hydrophilicity. In addition, the challenges of MoS₂ electrocatalysts and perspectives for future research and development of these catalysts are discussed.