Schematic illustration of sample preparation. a Schematic illustrations of the preparation of 1 T enriched-MoS2/MXene/CNT composite through one-step solvothermal technique. The mechanism of ammonia ion intercalation induced MoS2 phase transition is shown in b–d. Credit: npj 2D Materials and Applications (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41699-022-00300-0

There are a handful of ways to produce hydrogen fuel without emitting carbon into Earth's atmosphere. One involves using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

This method, known as electrolysis, requires a catalyst that speeds up that occur within cells.

More often than not, this electrocatalyst is platinum, a metal so rare that it's typically more expensive than gold, which makes the more costly than traditional sources of renewable energy and fossil fuels.

Recently, scientists have been studying a lower cost alternative called molybdenum disulfide, which is a two-dimensional compound used in motorcycle engine lubricants and other products. While promising, it's not nearly as efficient as platinum.

A University at Buffalo-led study published in April in npj 2D Materials and Applications could change that.

Its findings suggest that molybdenum disulfide, when enriched with two additional materials (a class of inorganic compounds known as MXenes and carbon nanotubes), has the potential to supplant platinum as an electrocatalyst, allowing for the more widespread adoption of hydrogen in fuel cell electric vehicles, and other applications.

"This is an exciting development," says the study's lead author Fei Yao, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Materials Design and Innovation, which is a joint effort of UB's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and its College of Arts and Sciences. "Hydrogen has great potential as a clean fuel source. But for that to happen, we must reduce its production cost. This is a step toward that goal."

In the study, researchers describe a one-step chemical reaction, known as solvothermal synthesis, that they employed to add both (the MXene) and carbon nanotubes to molybdenum disulfide.

The resulting ternary structure showed, according to the study, synergistic effects for active site exposure, surface area enlargement and —all key factors that improve the performance of a catalyst.

"The titanium carbide excels as a conductive backbone, and the carbon nanotubes form a crosslink between the two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide. The combination of all three create an elegant structure that clearly improves molybdenum disulfide's performance as an electrocatalyst," says study co-lead author Huamin Li, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at UB.

Additionally, the integration of titanium carbide with molybdenum disulfide helps prevent the titanium carbide from oxidizing and it reduces the potential of 2D layer restacking—characteristics that promote catalytic stability.

As a result, the ternary structure demonstrated remarkable catalytic performance improvement compared to other -based electrocatalysts.

More information: Sichen Wei et al, Dual-phase MoS2/MXene/CNT ternary nanohybrids for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution, npj 2D Materials and Applications (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41699-022-00300-0