Nanoporous Graphite-like Membranes Decorated with MoSe₂ Nanosheets for Hydrogen Evolution

Self-standing binder-free materials have been intensively used as electrocatalytic electrodes for hydrogen production. Herein, the binder-free molybdenum selenide nanosheets on three-dimensional macroporous reduced graphene oxide/graphite-like membrane (MoSe2/rGO-PGM) were proposed. A unique interconnected macroporous conducting carbon membrane was prepared by cryogelation and subsequent carbonization of the gelatin and graphene oxide cryogel. The conducting membrane is used as a substrate to synthesize MoSe2 by the solvothermal method in which MoSe2-layered nanosheets are vertically grown on the surface. The MoSe2/rGO-PGM was applied as an electrocatalyst without binder “binder-free” for the water-splitting “hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)”. The excellent electrochemical hydrogen generation exhibited a low onset potential of −0.15 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode and a Tafel slope of 51 mV/decade. In addition, remarkable stability with no current decay for over 20,000 s of testing was observed. The perpendicular oriented nanostructure of the electrocatalyst on a highly carbon-based macroporous template favored more exposed active sites accompanied by an easily diffused electrolyte. The fabrication concept was successfully extended to synthesize other metal dichalcogenides which can be utilized as alternative nanomaterials for HER catalysts.