Vertically oriented MoS₂ and WS₂ nanosheets directly grown on carbon cloth as efficient and stable 3-dimensional hydrogen-evolving cathodes

The development of non-noble-metal based hydrogen-evolving catalysts is essential to the practical application of water-splitting devices. Improvement of both the activity and stability of such catalysts remains a key challenge. In this work, a simple solvothermal method is developed to directly grow MoS₂ and WS₂ on carbon cloth with vertically oriented nanosheet layers. With the unique layer orientation that maximally exposes active edge sites as well as a rapid release of small gas bubbles to maintain a large working area, such prepared 3-dimensional electrodes exhibit high activity towards the HER. In addition, they also exhibit prominent electrochemical durability, thanks to the strong bonding between the nanosheet layers and the substrate along with the self-removal of the as-formed H₂ bubbles from the nano-porous electrode surface.