A schematic
representation of the edge-terminated MoS2 on glassy carbon electrode
(October 27, 2015) Scientists
have demonstrated that microwaves can help create nanostructured molybdenum
disulfide (MoS2) catalysts with an improved ability to produce hydrogen.
The microwave-assisted strategy works by increasing the
space, and therefore decreasing the interaction, between individual layers of
MoS2 nanosheets. This exposes a larger fraction of reactive sites along the
edges of these surfaces where hydrogen can be produced.
Atomistic first-principles calculations show that the
increase in spacing between the layers changes the electronic and chemical
properties of these edge sites, making them more effective in producing
hydrogen. The strategy was demonstrated by a small group of researchers at the
Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office
of Science User Facility based at DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory.
"The microwave-assisted strategy could be a viable way
to design advanced molybdenum disulfide catalysts for hydrogen production and
hydrogen fuel cells," said Yugang Sun, a nanoscience scientist in
Argonne's Nanoscience and Technology Division. "Microwave-synthesized
nanostructured MoS2 exceeds the reactivity and stability levels of unmodified
MoS2. Microwave-assisted synthesis is also a greener strategy when compared to
conventional heating methods."