Transition metal dichalcogenide nano-sheets (TMD nano-sheets) are proved to be promising alternatives for a diverse range of applications such as optoelectronic devices, catalysis, bioimaging, and photovoltaics. The dimensionality of the TMD nano-sheets can be tailored to improve and modify their inherent optical and electronic properties. The synthesis of TMD nano-sheets has been a major challenge in terms of size controllability, defects, impurities, and scalability. The Top-down strategy has been reported as a successful and scalable method in the synthesis of TMD nano-sheets. Nevertheless. Top-down synthesis of TMD nano-sheets has shown many limitations due to the formation of impurities, long synthesis hours, and strenuous purification steps. These limitations mainly arise due to the high-boiling point organic solvents used in the synthesis and the use of reactive intercalating agents in the exfoliation process. Herein, we report a greener, scalable, and convenient strategy to synthesize WS2 nano-sheets in using them as electro-catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER). WS2 nano-sheets with 2H phase synthesized using this method show great potential as a catalyst for HER which is imperative toward the efforts of replacing expensive Pt-based catalysts. Moreover, this work also highlights the structural correlation of 2H WS2 nano-sheets with the catalytic activity that is still in debate and not confirmed through previous research studies.

Determination of the structural and catalytic activity correlation of WS2 nano-sheets synthesized using expedient and reliable combined sonication and solvothermal synthesis

ACS Spring 2022

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