Few-layered ReS2 Nanosheets Grown on Carbon Nanotubes for Improved Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

For the first time, few-layered ReS2 nanosheets directly nucleated and grown on the tube walls of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method. The ReS2/CNTs composite delivers remarkably enhanced electrocatalytic performance. It exhibits a smaller onset overpotential of 80 mV and lower Tafel slope of 93.5 mV dec-1 than that of bare ReS2 (100 mV, 152.7 mV dec-1). The unique architecture with a high conductive and porous internetwork guarantees easy electrolyte infiltration, efficient electron transfer and sufficient active edge sites, resulting in enhanced HER performance of ReS2/CNTs. The presented synthesis approach can be extended to synthesize other 2D-semiconductor-based composite for energy storage and catalytic devices.