Thermostable 1T‐MoS2 Nanosheets Achieved by Spontaneous Intercalation of Cu Single Atoms at Room Temperature and Their Enhanced HER Performance

Abstract

A simple strategy to fabricate Cu single atoms (SAs) layer‐intercalated MoS2 only by stirring Cu metals with MoS2 nanosheets solution at room temperature is reported. An ultra‐high concentration (Cu: Mo = 98 at%) of Cu SAs is achieved and the intercalated Cu atoms strongly enhance the stability of the thermodynamically unstable 1T‐phase dominant MoS2. Notably, the as‐synthesized MoS2/Cu‐SAs exhibit a surprisingly high proportion of the metallic phase (64%) even after annealing at 800 °C in 5% H2/Ar foaming gas, indicating extraordinary thermostability of the Cu intercalated 1 T‐MoS2. In addition to, the as‐prepared MoS2/SAs exhibit outstanding catalytic performance owing to the improved electrical conductivity and the highly active unsaturated Cu SAs. This strategy is confirmed as a universal method for producing SAs of other metals and other 2D nanosheets can also be used as the host for SAs intercalation other than MoS2. This study may provide an effective strategy to fabricate facile and low‐cost SAs catalysts.

Keywords

• 2D transition metal dichalcogenides
• hydrogen evolution reactions
• single atom intercalation
• thermostability enhancement