(Photo)Electrocatalytic Properties of Mo–Se–S–Ni/Co thin Films Formed by Laser-Based Methods for Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Hybrid hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts containing various nanophases based on transition metal dichalcogenides may exhibit improved functional characteristics due to the synergistic interaction of crystalline nanophases. The possibility of such an effect in amorphous electrocatalysts containing various transition metals and chalcogenides requires deeper experimental and theoretical research. In this work, several thin-film materials in the Mo–Se–S–Ni/Co element system have been created by pulsed laser deposition and co-deposition methods. The possibility of improving the catalytic properties of these materials in the processes of (photo) electrochemical water splitting for compounds with a certain chemical composition has been established. Based on calculations based on the DFT theory, local sites containing original combinations of various atoms whose catalytic activity exceeds the activity of clusters of Mo–S and Mo–Se atoms have been determined.