Evaluating the Effect of Varying the Metal Precursor in the Colloidal Synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> Nanomaterials and Their Application as Electrodes in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Herein we report on the use of different metal precursors in the synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> nanomaterials in order to control their morphology. The use of Mo(CO)<sub>6</sub> as the metal precursor resulted in the formation of wrinkled few-layer nanosheets, while the use of...
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/9/1786 |
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| author | Zakhele Ndala Ndivhuwo Shumbula Siyabonga Nkabinde Tshwarela Kolokoto Obakeng Nchoe Poslet Shumbula Zikhona N. Tetana Ella C. Linganiso Siziwe S. Gqoba Nosipho Moloto |
| author_facet | Zakhele Ndala Ndivhuwo Shumbula Siyabonga Nkabinde Tshwarela Kolokoto Obakeng Nchoe Poslet Shumbula Zikhona N. Tetana Ella C. Linganiso Siziwe S. Gqoba Nosipho Moloto |
| author_sort | Zakhele Ndala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Herein we report on the use of different metal precursors in the synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> nanomaterials in order to control their morphology. The use of Mo(CO)<sub>6</sub> as the metal precursor resulted in the formation of wrinkled few-layer nanosheets, while the use of H<sub>2</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> as the metal precursor resulted in the formation of nanoflowers. To investigate the effect of the morphologies on their performance as catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction, electrochemical characterization was done using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The MoSe<sub>2</sub> nanoflowers were found to have superior electrochemical performance towards the hydrogen evolution reaction with a lower Tafel slope, on-set potential, and overpotential at 10 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> compared to the wrinkled few-layer nanosheets. This was found to be due to the higher effective electrochemical surface area of the nanoflowers compared to the nanosheets which suggests a higher number of exposed edge sites in the nanoflowers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:28:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e803a5ecfeb14e698d707077d9a5d6dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:28:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-e803a5ecfeb14e698d707077d9a5d6dd2023-11-20T13:04:46ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912020-09-01109178610.3390/nano10091786Evaluating the Effect of Varying the Metal Precursor in the Colloidal Synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> Nanomaterials and Their Application as Electrodes in the Hydrogen Evolution ReactionZakhele Ndala0Ndivhuwo Shumbula1Siyabonga Nkabinde2Tshwarela Kolokoto3Obakeng Nchoe4Poslet Shumbula5Zikhona N. Tetana6Ella C. Linganiso7Siziwe S. Gqoba8Nosipho Moloto9Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South AfricaMolecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South AfricaMolecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South AfricaMolecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South AfricaMolecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South AfricaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Limpopo Private Bag x1106, Sovenga 0727, South AfricaMolecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South AfricaMolecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South AfricaMolecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South AfricaMolecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South AfricaHerein we report on the use of different metal precursors in the synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> nanomaterials in order to control their morphology. The use of Mo(CO)<sub>6</sub> as the metal precursor resulted in the formation of wrinkled few-layer nanosheets, while the use of H<sub>2</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> as the metal precursor resulted in the formation of nanoflowers. To investigate the effect of the morphologies on their performance as catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction, electrochemical characterization was done using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The MoSe<sub>2</sub> nanoflowers were found to have superior electrochemical performance towards the hydrogen evolution reaction with a lower Tafel slope, on-set potential, and overpotential at 10 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> compared to the wrinkled few-layer nanosheets. This was found to be due to the higher effective electrochemical surface area of the nanoflowers compared to the nanosheets which suggests a higher number of exposed edge sites in the nanoflowers.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/9/1786molybdenum diselenidecolloidal synthesisHER |
| spellingShingle | Zakhele Ndala Ndivhuwo Shumbula Siyabonga Nkabinde Tshwarela Kolokoto Obakeng Nchoe Poslet Shumbula Zikhona N. Tetana Ella C. Linganiso Siziwe S. Gqoba Nosipho Moloto Evaluating the Effect of Varying the Metal Precursor in the Colloidal Synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> Nanomaterials and Their Application as Electrodes in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Nanomaterials molybdenum diselenide colloidal synthesis HER |
| title | Evaluating the Effect of Varying the Metal Precursor in the Colloidal Synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> Nanomaterials and Their Application as Electrodes in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction |
| title_full | Evaluating the Effect of Varying the Metal Precursor in the Colloidal Synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> Nanomaterials and Their Application as Electrodes in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Effect of Varying the Metal Precursor in the Colloidal Synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> Nanomaterials and Their Application as Electrodes in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Effect of Varying the Metal Precursor in the Colloidal Synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> Nanomaterials and Their Application as Electrodes in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction |
| title_short | Evaluating the Effect of Varying the Metal Precursor in the Colloidal Synthesis of MoSe<sub>2</sub> Nanomaterials and Their Application as Electrodes in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction |
| title_sort | evaluating the effect of varying the metal precursor in the colloidal synthesis of mose sub 2 sub nanomaterials and their application as electrodes in the hydrogen evolution reaction |
| topic | molybdenum diselenide colloidal synthesis HER |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/9/1786 |
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