Zn_<i>x</i>Co_1–<i>x</i>MoS₃ Microboxes from Metal–Organic\nFrameworks as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

The\nincreasingly exhausted fossil energy reserve and the current\nserious ecological problems make people pay more attention to renewable\nclean energy sources such as hydrogen. Highly active, low-cost, and\nstable electrocatalysts are crucial for producing hydrogen through\nwater electrolysis, and the development of them is an appealing but\nchallenging task. Herein, MOFs-derived Zn_<i>x</i>Co_1–<i>x</i>MoS₃ microboxes\nwere successfully fabricated by a facile and general method. Water-soluble\n[(CH₃)₂NH₂]­[M­(HCOO)₃]\nprecursors reacted with a (NH₄)₂MoS₄ water solution quickly to generate insoluble precipitates and, through\nsubsequent annealing treatment, finally generated Zn_<i>x</i>Co_1–<i>x</i>MoS₃ microboxes.\nBenefiting from the synergism of Zn–Co–Mo–S,\nthe hollow cubic structure, and the incorporation of Zn and Co atoms,\nthe Zn_1/3Co_2/3MoS₃ exhibits superior\nHER performance in acidic media, with a low overpotential of 160 mV\nand a small Tafel slope of 85 mV dec^–1, as well\nas excellent durability. This general strategy can also be applied\nto fabricate other hollow molybdenum-based sulfides and MOFs-derived\nmaterials.