The formation of a hybrid structure from tungsten selenide and oxide plates for a hydrogen-evolution electrocatalyst

Abstract

It has been found that the pulsed laser deposition of a thin tungsten selenide film, followed by thermal treatment at 550°C in an Ar + O₂ mixture of gases, results in the formation of a hybrid structure that is made up of ultrathin WSe₂ and WO_3–y platelets. The structural and size characteristics of the nanoplatelets deposited on microcrystalline graphite provide the effective hydrogen evolution reaction in a 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution, with the cathode current made about seven times higher at a potential of–100 mV and the slope of the Tafel characteristic reduced from 340 to 90 mV/dec.