Distorted MoS2 nanostructures: An efficient catalyst for the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction

An effective electrochemical catalyst has been developed through a mechanical activation method for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and BET surface area measurements. It was found that the mechanical activated MoS2 (MA-MoS2) possessed distorted structures with an abundance of exposed edge sites, exhibiting excellent electrochemical activity in the HER with a high current density and a relatively low Tafel slope.