Asymmetric charge distribution boosts hydrogen evolution performance in two‐dimensional MoO2/MoS2 step heterostructure
Mengke Kang,
Xiang Zhang,
Jingyi Wang,
Wen Li,
Tianyu Xue,
Kun Zhai,
Jianyong Xiang,
Anmin Nie,
Yingchun Cheng,
Zhongyuan Liu
Affiliations
Mengke Kang
Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology Yanshan University Qinhuangdao China
Xiang Zhang
Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology Yanshan University Qinhuangdao China
Jingyi Wang
Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics & Institute of Advanced Materials, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials Nanjing Tech University Nanjing China
Wen Li
Department of Chemistry Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Illinois USA
Tianyu Xue
Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology Yanshan University Qinhuangdao China
Kun Zhai
Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology Yanshan University Qinhuangdao China
Jianyong Xiang
Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology Yanshan University Qinhuangdao China
Anmin Nie
Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology Yanshan University Qinhuangdao China
Yingchun Cheng
Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology Yanshan University Qinhuangdao China
Zhongyuan Liu
Center for High Pressure Science, State Key Lab of Metastable Materials Science and Technology Yanshan University Qinhuangdao China
Abstract Step heterostructures are predicted to hold a profound catalytic performance because of the rearranged electronic structure at their interface. However, limitations in the morphology of heterostructures prepared by hydrothermal reactions or molten salt‐assisted strategies make it challenging to directly assess charge distribution and evaluate a single interface's hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. Here, we prepared two‐dimensional MoO2/MoS2 step heterostructures with a large specific surface area by the chemical vapor deposition method. Surface Kelvin probe force microscopy and electrical transport measurement verified the asymmetric charge distribution at a single interface. By fabricating a series of micro on‐chip electrocatalytic devices, we investigate the HER performance for a single interface and confirm that the interface is essential for superior catalytic performance. We experimentally confirmed that the enhancement of the HER performance of step heterostructure is attributed to the asymmetric charge distribution at the interface. This work lays a foundation for designing highly efficient catalytic systems based on step heterostructures.
