Three-dimensional carbon foam/N-doped graphene@MoS2 hybrid nanostructures as effective electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-based hybrid nanostructures have attracted much attention as promising alternatives to Pt-based electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. However, the catalytic performance of these nanostructures is limited by their poor conductivity and small surface area. Herein, using commercial threedimensional melamine foams (MFs) as the raw material, MoS2-coated macroporous carbon foam/N-doped graphene hybrid nanostructures (CF–NG@MoS2) were prepared through a combination of graphene oxide (GO) loading on the MF framework, high-temperature carbonization, and MoS2 growth. Owing to their unique structure, the asprepared CF–NG@MoS2 hybrids exhibited enhanced catalytic performance for the HER. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016