# Catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium: Configuring a cooperative mechanism at the Ag-Ag$\_2$S-MoS$\_2$ interface

Source: [Catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium: Configuring a cooperative mechanism at the Ag-Ag$\_2$S-MoS$\_2$ interface](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa42821e209131ce902d8b>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-25T03:49:07.270Z

Authors: Avraham Bar-Hen, Simon Hettler, Ashwin Ramasubramaniam, Raul Arenal, Ronen Bar Ziv, Maya Bar Sadan

Published: 2022-09-09T23:37:06.000Z

## Abstract

Designing electrocatalysts for HER in alkaline conditions to overcome the sluggish kinetics associated with the additional water dissociation step is a recognized challenge in promoting the hydrogen economy. To this end, delicately tuning the atomic-scale structure and surface composition of nanoparticles is a common strategy and, specifically, making use of hybrid structures, can produce synergistic effects that lead to highly active catalysts. Here, we present a core-shell catalyst of Ag@MoS$\_2$ that shows promising results towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in both 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.5 M KOH. In this hybrid structure, the MoS$\_2$ shell is strained and defective, and charge transfer occurs between the conductive core and the shell, contributing to the electrocatalytic activity. The shelling process results in a large fraction of Ag$\_2$S in the cores, and adjusting the relative fractions of Ag, Ag$\_2$S, and MoS$\_2$ leads to improved catalytic activity and fast charge-transfer kinetics. We suggest that the enhancement of alkaline HER is associated with a cooperative effect of the interfaces, where the Ag(I) sites in Ag$\_2$S drive the water dissociation step, and the formed hydrogen subsequently recombines on the defective MoS$\_2$ shell. This study demonstrates the benefits of hybrid structures as functional nanomaterials and provides a scheme to activate MoS$\_2$ for HER in alkaline conditions.

## Recorded benchmark results

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## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.04557>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/2209.04557.pdf>)