A single-step synthesis of aluminum-doped WS2 for oxygen evolution reaction with loading influence on catalytic performance

Recently, tungsten disulfide (WS2) has received considerable attention in aspects of electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reactions (OER). However, due to the restricted number of active sites, WS2 nanoflower has a high overpotential in OER. Thus, we provide herein a doping approach for doping WS2 nanoflower with non-noble aluminum (Al) metal to increase active sites in an effort to enhance the OER activity of WS2. The positive electrocatalytic effect of Al-doping on WS2 material results in a lower OER operating overpotential. In comparison to undoped WS2, the skeleton-like structure (0.04 %) Al-doped WS2 nanoflowers significantly enhanced OER catalytic activity with an overpotential of ca. 650 mV at the current density of 6 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the impact of different mass loadings of (0.04 %) Al-WS2 on the OER performance has been examined using electrochemical analysis. The success of using aluminum dopants to improve OER performance would have a significant impact on the development and production of non-noble metal sulfide-based electrocatalysts for OER.