Synthesis of Co, Ni-doped MoS₂ as durable and pH-universal catalyst for hydrogen evolution

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has garnered significant attention as a potential substitute for Pt catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Furthermore, there is a need to explore cost-effective and efficient electrocatalysts that can perform well across different pH levels. In this study, a straightforward hydrothermal method is presented to synthesize Ni, Co-doped MoS₂ nanosheets on carbon fiber paper (Ni, Co-MoS₂/CFP) for HER in various pH environments. The findings suggest that strategic doping not only alters the structure and composition of Ni, Co-MoS₂/CFP but also enhances its inherent electrocatalytic activity while facilitating the transformation of the MoS₂ phase. The overpotentials observed for Ni, Co-MoS₂/CFP are 95.6, 154, and 144 mV (at 10 mA cm⁻²) under alkaline, acidic, and neutral environments respectively. The exceptional performance of Ni, Co-MoS₂/CFP in HER can be attributed to the introduction of nickel and cobalt dopants which increase porosity and expose more active sites. This one-step doping technique presents a novel approach to modulating catalytic activity across all pH ranges.