POM derived UOR and HER bifunctional NiS/MoS2 composite for overall water splitting

A binder free electrode is fabricated by "planting" Anderson type polyoxometalate derived NiS/MoS2 "follower" on functional carbon paper. This electrode shows excellent UOR activity. In 1 M KOH containing 0.4 M urea, it only needs 1.42 and 1.43 V voltage to achieve 50 and 100 mA cm(-2) current. On the contrary, to reach 50 and 100 mA cm(-2), OER require 1.68 and 1.75 V. Besides promising UOR activity, the HER property of this electrode is also attractive. In urea containing electrolyte, its eta(10) and eta(100) are only 128 and 283 mV. More importantly, it shows excellent stability in both UOR and HER. In electrolytic cell, with this electrode as cathode and anode simultaneously, only 1.42 and 1.49 V voltage is needed to obtain 10 and 50 mA cm(-2) current in urea containing electrolyte. Without urea, the voltages increase to 1.69 and 1.75 V. The excellent UOR and HER properties suggest this binder free electrode is competent for low energy consumption H-2 production.