Polyoxometalates as a precursor in one-pot synthesis of MoS₂-V₂O₅@CC for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are ideal preassembled platforms for constructing transition metal catalysts because they are rich in oxygen and transition metal elements. In contrast to traditional methods for preparing V₂O₅/MoS₂ composite catalysts, the method proposed in this study leverages the selective preference of vanadium for oxygen vs. sulfur. A MoS₂-based electrocatalyst composited with a small amount of V₂O₅ was constructed in situ on a carbon cloth via a one-pot hydrothermal method using a Lindqvist-type POM, i.e., (C₁₆H₃₆N)₂ Mo₃V₃O₁₆(OCH₂)₃CCH₂CH₃ (Mo₃V₃), as a precursor. This catalyst was used for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. The experimental results reveal that the introduction of a small amount of V₂O₅ considerably increases the electrochemically active surface area of the catalyst, effectively enhancing the catalytic performance of the material. This study provides a new design strategy and synthetic pathway for precise construction of high-performance composite electrocatalysts based on POM precursors.