Promising 2D/2D MoTe₂/Ti₃C₂Tx Hybrid Materials for Boosted Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Hydrogen as an energy source has been regarded as a clean and efficient energy carrier and as a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Among numerous hydrogen generation systems, water splitting is deemed as the most productive technology to generate clean and high-purity hydrogen. The prominent features-based two-dimensional (2D) materials have proven themselves as efficient as well as robust electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here we designed a remarkably active and durable HER catalyst by integrating semimetallic 1T′ MoTe 2 petal clusters on Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets by a facile hydrothermal approach. As-prepared MoTe 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x hybrids exhibited significantly enhanced electrocatalytic HER performance, generating a cathode current density of 10 mA/cm 2 at an overpotential of only 293 mV with a small Tafel slope of 65 mV/dec and satisfactory long-term stability in acidic media. The experimental results are further verified by the first-principles studies presenting the geometrical and electronic properties of MoTe 2, Ti 3 C 2 T x, and MoTe 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x hybrids. The interaction between the Ti 3 C 2 T x and MoTe 2 is due to charge transfer from Ti 3 C 2 T x to MoTe 2 . Theoretically, we have calculated the overpotential for HER activities. Computed overpotential follows the qualitative trend of MoTe 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x < MoTe 2 < Ti 3 C 2 T x, which supports the experimental findings. The unique aspects of these unique hybrids, such as semimetallic nature MoTe 2 petal clusters and strong interface interaction between MoTe 2 and conductive Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets, cause superior HER catalytic performance. We believe these outcomes accentuate the promising perspective of MoTe 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x hybrids as a capable and nonprecious catalyst and provide an auspicious prospect for the development of 2D materials-based HER electrocatalysts.