A Novel MoSe2–Reduced Graphene Oxide/Polyimide Composite Film for Applications in Electrocatalysis and Photoelectrocatalysis Hydrogen Evolution

Promising catalytic activity of MoSe₂ in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is synthesized on a new reduced graphene oxide/polyimide (rGO/PI) substrate by a simple electrochemical method. The MoSe₂ nanoparticles have excellent photo‐responsive properties; the potential difference could reach 0.45 V with the photo‐responsive time just 0.6 s. Furthermore, MoSe₂ thin film exhibits superior catalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). It has a greater cathode current at more positive potential compared to other MoSe₂ and MoS₂, and the efficiency of H₂ evolution is strongly influenced by illumination; this suggests that MoSe₂ composite film has good photoelectrocatalysis properties for hydrogen evolution. Besides, both dark and illumination MoSe₂ films exhibit extremely high stability in acidic solution as the HER catalytic activity shows no degradation after 100 cycles for two hours. All results indicate that MoSe₂–rGO/PI composite film has potential to be a better catalyst for HER.