Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) attract research interest owing to their unique physical and chemical properties. Among the family of TMDs, tungsten disulfide (WS2) has a unique band structure due to its semiconductor characteristics; namely, its broadband spectral response characteristics, ultra-fast bleach recovery time and excellent saturable light absorption. This article is a review of the current application of WS2 in catalysts, lasers, batteries, photodetectors and lubricants. The review begins with a brief overview of the structure, properties and growth of WS2 and describes the existing preparation methods for this material. Finally, methods for improving the performance of WS2 in its current applications are presented. This review is limited to the most recent reports on this topic.
Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-based transition-metal chalcogenides are considered to be cost-efficient, environmentally-friendly, and stable materials in the application of electrocatalytic hydrogen production.
Designing interfacial structure is an essential but challenging approach to regulating electronic structures to develop favorable bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts in Zn-air batteries (ZABs). We utilize a facile one-step sintering strategy for preparing Co2P/Co3Fe7 interfacial nanoparticles encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanotubes (Co2P/Co3Fe7@N-C). The obtained Co2P/Co3Fe7@N-C electrocatalyst exhibits significant bifunctional oxygen evolution/reduction reaction (OER/ORR) activity (ΔE = 0.61 V), better than that of Pt/C + Ir/C (ΔE = 0.69 V) and compete with other previously report electrocatalysts. The density functional theory results reveal that the synergistic coupling effect and interfacial electronic interaction between Co2P and Co3Fe7 play a key role in boosting bifunctional ORR/OER efficiency. Remarkably, Co2P/Co3Fe7@N-C-based liquid ZABs exhibit excellent performance with higher power density (152.3 mW cm− 2) and longer cycle stability (1596 cycles) than the Pt/C + Ir/C-based ZABs (105 mW cm− 2; 882 cycles). Interestingly, the connected in series of Co2P/Co3Fe7@N-C-based liquid ZABs can be powered emitting diodes (LEDs) and blue LEDs display panel, indicating the possibility of practical application. It can be predicted that our present work opens a new pathway for rationally designing superior bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable metal-air batteries through interfacial engineering.
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