Synthesis of a MoS(x)–O–PtO(x) Electrocatalyst with High Hydrogen Evolution Activity Using a Sacrificial Counter‐Electrode

Water splitting is considered to be a very promising alternative to greenly produce hydrogen, and the key to optimizing this process is the development of suitable electrocatalysts. Here, a sacrificial‐counter‐electrode method to synthesize a MoS(x)/carbon nanotubes/Pt catalyst (0.55 wt% Pt loading) is developed, which exhibits a low overpotential of 25 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm(−2), a low Tafel slope of 27 mV dec(−1), and excellent stability under acidic conditions. The theory calculations and experimental results confirm the high hydrogen evolution activity that is likely due to the fact that the S atoms in MoS(x) can be substituted with O atoms during a potential cycling process when using Pt as a counter‐electrode, where the O atoms act as bridges between the catalytic PtO(x) particles and the MoS(x) support to generate a MoS(x)–O–PtO(x) structure, allowing the Pt atoms to donate more electrons thus facilitating the hydrogen evolution reaction process.