Facile route to achieve MoSe2-Ni3Se2 on nickel foam as efficient dual functional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

Since the catalytic activity of present nickel-based synthetic selenide is still to be improved, MoSe₂-Ni₃Se₂ was synthesized on nickel foam (NF) (MoSe₂-Ni₃Se₂/NF) by introducing a molybdenum source. After the molybdenum source was introduced, the surface of the catalyst changed from a single-phase structure to a multi-phase structure. The catalyst surface with enriched active sites and the synergistic effect of MoSe₂ and Ni₃Se₂ together enhance the hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), the oxygen evolution reactions (OER), and electrocatalytic total water splitting activity of the catalyst. The overpotential of the MoSe₂-Ni₃Se₂/NF electrocatalyst is only 259 mV and 395 mV at a current density of 100 mA/cm² for HER and OER, respectively. MoSe₂-Ni₃Se₂/NF with a two-electrode system attains a current density of 10 mA/cm² at 1.60 V. In addition, the overpotential of HER and OER of MoSe₂-Ni₃Se₂/NF within 80000 s and the decomposition voltage of electrocatalytic total water decomposition hardly changed, showing an extremely strong stability. The improvement of MoSe₂-Ni₃Se₂/NF catalytic activity is attributed to the establishment of the multi-phase structure and the optimized inoculation of the multi-component and multi-interface.