One-pot synthesis of flower-like MoSe2 nanoflakes for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and methanol oxidation

Abstract Flower-like molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) nanoflakes (NF) were prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal method and the samples were characterized by using various analytical techniques. Powder X-ray crystallography (XRD) has confirmed the hexagonal crystal phase of the MoSe2 and the SEM images have shown clear flower-like structures of MoSe2 NF. The prepared MoSe2 NF and Pt assisted MoSe2 NF catalysts were evaluated for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The electrocatalytic activity of platinum (Pt) supported MoSe2 NF was higher than that of bare MoSe2 NF, owing to redox characteristics of the Pt material. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution test was performed under different range of light irradiations. The detailed catalyst stability and durability have been examined using recycling tests and 2400 seconds of chronoamperometry measurements.