Self-supported MoS_x/V₂O₃ heterostructures as efficient hybrid catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

Earth-abundant and low-cost hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts represent a future direction for achieving sustainable hydrogen energy production. Low-cost amorphous molybdenum sulfides (MoS_x), with their highly active HER activity, have emerged as outstanding catalysts for electrochemical hydrogen production. Herein, we report the development of a synergetic amorphous MoS_x hybrid catalysts on V₂O₃ with optimized HER activity of MoS_x. Our synthetic and structural characterization shows that MoS_x distributes on V₂O₃ uniformly. HER-inert V₂O₃ provides a highly electrochemically active surface area for HER and promotes electron transport. The obtained hybrid MoS_x/V₂O₃/CC catalyst exhibits a low overpotential of 146 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² toward HER under acidic conditions, which is comparable with the current advanced catalysts, and high stability with no significant changes over 10 h of electrolysis. The density functional theory calculations also demonstrate that the interface of V₂O₃ and MoS_x helps to improve the conductivity.