Embedding Amorphous Molybdenum Sulfide Within A Porous Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Matrix To Enhance Its H-2-Evolving Catalytic Activity And Robustness

Amorphous molybdenum sulfide (MoSx) is a promising alternative to Pt catalyst for the H(2)evolution in water. However, it is suffered of an electrochemical corrosion. In this report, we present a strategy to tack this issue by embedding the MoS(x)catalyst within a porous poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) matrix. The PEDOT host is firstly grown onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode by electrochemical polymerization of EDOT monomer in an acetonitrile solution to perform a porous structure. The MoS(x)catalyst is subsequently deposited onto the PEDOT by an electrochemical oxidation of [MoS4](2-)monomer. In a 0.5 M H(2)SO(4)electrolyte solution, the MoSx/PEDOT shows higher H-2-evolving catalytic activities (current density of 34.2 mA/cm(2)at -0.4 V vs RHE) in comparison to a pristine MoS(x)grown on a planar FTO electrode having similar catalyst loading (24.2 mA/cm(2)). The PEDOT matrix contributes to enhance the stability of MoS(x)catalyst by a significant manner. As such, the MoSx/PEDOT retains 81 % of its best catalytic activity after 1000 potential scans from 0 to -0.4 Vvs. RHE, whereas a planar MoS(x)catalyst is completely degraded after about 240 potential scans, due to its complete corrosion.