Flower-like 1T-MoS/NiCoS on a carbon cloth substrate as an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

The 1T-MoS/NiCoS composite grown on carbon cloth (CC) was successfully prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method as an efficient electrode for the hydrogen evolution reaction. The morphology and composition characterization show that the composite has a flower-like structure with a large number of edges and surfaces exposed, and the content of the 1T phase in MoS is 63%. 1T-MoS/NiCoS/CC exhibits an overpotential of 107 mV at 10 mA cm, and a Tafel slope of 66.4 mV dec in an alkaline electrolyte. After continuous electrolysis for 24 h at an overpotential of 170 mV, 86% of the original current density was retained in an chronoamperometry measurement. The outstanding catalytic performance of the composite is ascribed to its unique structure, high 1T-MoS content and the synergistic catalysis between 1T-MoS and NiCoS. This work provides a facile and effective strategy for fabricating the 1T-MoS/NiCoS/CC composite and demonstrates that the composite is expected to be a competitive non-noble HER catalyst.