MoS_(2) nanoflowers coupled with ultrafine Ir nanoparticles for efficient acid overall water splitting reaction

Bi-functional electrocatalysts for acid overall water splitting reactions are crucial but still challenging to the development of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis.Herein,an efficient bi-functional catalyst of Ir/MoS_(2) nanoflowers(Ir/MoS_(2) NFs) catalyst was reported for acidic water electrolysis which can be constructed by coupling three-dimensionally interconnected MoS_(2) NFs with ultrafine Ir nanoparticles.A more suitable adsorption ability for the H* and *OOH intermediates was revealed,where the Ir sites were proposed as the main active center and MoS_(2) promoted the charge relocation to electronically modify the interfacial structure.The significant interfacial charge redistribution between the MoS_(2) NFs and the Ir active sites synergistically induced excellent catalytic activity and stability for the water electrolysis reaction.Specifically,the catalyst required overpotentials of 270 and 35 mV to reach a kinetic current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)for OER and HER,respectively,loading on the glass carbon electrode,with high catalytic kinetics,stability,and catalytic efficiency.A two-electrode system constructed by Ir/MoS_(2) NFs drove 10 mA cm^(-2)at a cell voltage of 1.55 V,about 70 mV lower than that of the commercial Pt/C||IrO_(2) system.In addition,partial surface oxidation of Ir nanoparticles to generate high-valent Ir species was also found significant to accelerate OER.The enhanced catalytic performance was attributed to the strong metal-support interaction in the Ir/MoS_(2) NFs catalyst system that changed the electronic structure of Ir metal and promoted the synergistic catalytic effect between Ir and MoS_(2) NFs.The work presented a novel platform of Ir-catalyst for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis.