Synthesis and characterization of rhenium disulfide nanosheets decorated rGO as electrode towards hydrogen generation in different media

Abstract

Herein, we synthesized the rhenium disulfide (ReS2) and ReS2/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) two-dimensional hybrid materials by a modified hydrothermal method. The composite showed a significant interaction between rGO and ReS2. The electrocatalytic activity of electrodes for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was investigated in different pH media. The catalyst showed higher performance in acidic media due to faster HER kinetics and better coverage of the catalyst surface with H-adsorption. The ReS2/rGO electrode showed an excellent HER activity and showed a low onset overpotential of −\u2009120\xa0mV, a Tafel slope of 47\xa0mV dec−1, and the current density of 10\xa0mA\xa0cm−2 in overpotential of −\u2009180\xa0mV at acidic media. The high surface area and conductivity of rGO, the existence of edge sites and porosity in the catalyst, and the synergistic effect between ReS2 and rGO can support the excellent HER activity of ReS2/rGO electrode.