Production and Properties of Molybdenum Disulfide/Graphene Oxide Hybrid Nanostructures for Catalytic Applications

Abstract

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) can be an excellent candidate for being combined with carbon nanomaterials to obtain new hybrid nanostructures with outstanding properties, including higher catalytic activity. The aim of the conducted research was to develop the novel production method of hybrid nanostructures formed from MoS2 and graphene oxide (GO). The nanostructures were synthesized in different weight ratios and in two types of reactors (i.e., impinging jet and semi-batch reactors). Physicochemical analysis of the obtained materials was carried out, using various analytical techniques: particle size distribution (PSD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Due to the potential application of materials based on MoS2 as the catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) of the commercial MoS2, synthesized MoS2 and the obtained hybrid nanostructures was performed using a three-electrode system. The results show that the developed synthesis of hybrid MoS2/GO nanostructures in continuous reactors is a novel and facile method for obtaining products with desired properties. The hybrid nanostructures have shown better electrochemical properties and higher onset potentials compared to MoS2 nanoparticles. The results indicate that the addition of carbon nanomaterials during the synthesis improves the activity and stability of the MoS2 nanoparticles.