Large Scale Synthesis 3D Architecture Composites of Reduced Graphene Oxide with MoS2 or WS2 Nanoparticles: Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Composite materials have recently gained significant importance in energy-related fields such as fuel cells, solar cells, and supercapacitors. For industrial applications, the development of cost-effective and scalable production methods for these materials is highly desirable. Among emerging materials, metal chalcogenide nanoparticles (MCNPs) have shown valuable potential in biomedical applications. However, their direct application in energy devices remains limited due to poor electrochemical performance. To enhance their performance in energy-related applications, a promising strategy involves synthesizing composite materials by combining MCNPs with suitable conductive materials. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is particularly attractive for this purpose due to its excellent electrical conductivity, high surface area, and favorable structural properties. While MCNPs are semiconducting with desirable optical properties, their activity in energy devices is suboptimal. Therefore, integrating MCNPs with rGO can create synergistic effects that improve overall device performance. In this study, we report the synthesis of MCNPs–reduced graphene oxide (MCG) composite materials through a simple one-step hydrothermal treatment using graphene oxide and MCNPs. The resulting MCG composites exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), following a favorable four-electron transfer pathway in an alkaline medium.