Novel Insights and Perspectives into Weakly Coupled ReS2 toward Emerging Applications

Atomic engineering of two-dimensional materials via liquid metals

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, known for their distinctive electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties, have attracted considerable attention. The precise atomic-scale synthesis of 2D materials opens up new frontiers in nanotechnology, presenting novel opportunities for material design and property control but remains challenging due to the high expense of single-crystal solid metal catalysts. Liquid metals, with their fluidity, ductility, dynamic surface, and isotropy, have significantly enhanced the catalytic processes crucial for synthesizing 2D materials, including decomposition, diffusion, and nucleation, thus presenting an unprecedented precise control over material structures and properties. Besides, the emergence of liquid alloy makes the creation of diverse heterostructures possible, offering a new dimension for atomic engineering. Significant achievements have been made in this field encompassing defect-free preparation, large-area self-aligned array, phase engineering, heterostructures, etc. This review systematically summarizes these contributions from the aspects of fundamental synthesis methods, liquid catalyst selection, resulting 2D materials, and atomic engineering. Moreover, the review sheds light on the outlook and challenges in this evolving field, providing a valuable resource for deeply understanding this field. The emergence of liquid metals has undoubtedly revolutionized the traditional nanotechnology for preparing 2D materials on solid metal catalysts, offering flexible possibilities for the advancement of next-generation electronics.

Inducing Directional Charge Delocalization in 3D-Printable Micro-Supercapacitors Based on Strongly Coupled Black Phosphorus and ReS2 Nanocomposites

The growing interest in so-called interface coupling strategies arises from their potential to enhance the performance of active electrode materials. Nevertheless, designing a robust coupled interface in nanocomposites for stable electrochemical processes remains a challenge. In this study, an epitaxial growth strategy is proposed by synthesizing sulfide rhenium (ReS2) on exfoliated black phosphorus (E-BP) nanosheets, creating an abundance of robust interfacial linkages. Through spectroscopic analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, the authors investigate the interfacial environment. The well-developed coupled interface and structural stability contribute to the impressive performance of the 3D-printed E-BP@ReS2-based micro-supercapacitor, achieving a specific capacitance of 47.3 mF cm-2 at 0.1 mA cm-2 and demonstrating excellent long-term cyclability (89.2% over 2000 cycles). Furthermore, density functional theory calculations unveil the positive impact of the strongly coupled interface in the E-BP@ReS2 nanocomposite on the adsorption of H+ ions, showcasing a significantly reduced adsorption energy of -2.17 eV. The strong coupling effect facilitates directional charge delocalization at the interface, enhancing the electrochemical performance of electrodes and resulting in the successful construction of advanced micro-supercapacitors.

Universal Platform for Robust Dual-Atom Doped 2D Catalysts with Superior Hydrogen Evolution in Wide pH Media

Layered 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been suggested as efficient substitutes for Pt-group metal electrocatalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, poor catalytic activities in neutral and alkaline electrolytes considerably hinder their practical applications. Furthermore, the weak adhesion between TMDs and electrodes often impedes long-term durability and thus requires a binder. Here, a universal platform is reported for robust dual-atom doped 2D electrocatalysts with superior HER performance over a wide pH range media. V:Co-ReS2 on a wafer scale is directly grown on oxidized Ti foil by a liquid-phase precursor-assisted approach and subsequently used as highly efficient electrocatalysts. The catalytic performance surpasses that of Pt group metals in a high current regime (≥ 100 mA cm-2) at pH ≥ 7, with a high durability of more than 70 h in all media at 200 mA cm-2. First-principles calculations reveal that V:Co dual doping in ReS2 significantly reduces the water dissociation barrier and simultaneously enables the material to achieve the thermoneutral Gibbs free energy for hydrogen adsorption.

Multiflower-like ReS2/NiAl-LDH Heterojunction for Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

The development of high-efficiency heterojunction photocatalysts has been recognized as an effective approach to facilitate photocatalytic CO2 reduction. In this research, we successfully synthesized a novel multiflower-like ReS2/NiAl-LDH heterojunction through a hydrothermal method. Remarkably, when exposed to visible-light irradiation, 2-ReS2/NiAl-LDH demonstrated an exceptional CO production rate of 272.26 μmol·g-1·h-1, which was 4.0 and 10.8 times higher than that of pristine NiAl-LDH and ReS2. The intertwined structure of ReS2 and NiAl-LDH promoted the efficient transfer and separation of photogenerated carriers, thereby significantly enhancing the photocatalytic CO2 reduction capabilities of the ReS2/NiAl-LDH. Furthermore, the carrier transfer pathway for the 2-ReS2/NiAl-LDH heterojunction was elucidated, suggesting a type II scheme mechanism, as evidenced by photochemical deposition experiments. The findings of this study offer valuable insights and pave the way for future research in the design and construction of LDH-based and ReS2-based heterojunctions for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction.

Temperature-Dependent Conduction and Photoresponse in Few-Layer ReS2

The electrical behavior and the photoresponse of rhenium disulfide field-effect transistors (FETs) have been widely studied; however, only a few works have investigated the photocurrent as a function of temperature. In this paper, we perform the electrical characterization of few-layer ReS2-based FETs with Cr-Au contacts over a wide temperature range. We exploit the temperature-dependent transfer and output characteristics to estimate the effective Schottky barrier at the Cr-Au/ReS2 interface and to investigate the temperature behavior of parameters, such as the threshold voltage, carrier concentration, mobility, and subthreshold swing. Through time-resolved photocurrent measurements, we show that the photocurrent increases with temperature and exhibits a linear dependence on the incident light power at both low and room temperatures and a longer rise/decay time at higher temperatures. We surmise that the photocurrent is affected by the photobolometric effect and light-induced desorption of adsorbates which are facilitated by the high temperature and the low pressure.

Triggering the Channel-Sulfur Sites in 1T'-ReS2 Cocatalyst toward Splendid Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Electron density manipulation of active sites in cocatalysts is of great essential to realize the optimal hydrogen adsorption/desorption behavior for constructing high-efficient H2 -evolution photocatalyst. Herein, a strategy about weakening metal-metal bond strength to directionally optimize the electron density of channel-sulfur(S) sites in 1T' Re1- x Mox S2 cocatalyst is clarified to improve their hydrogen adsorption strength (S─H bond) for rapid H2 -production reaction. In this case, the ultrathin Re1- x Mox S2 nanosheet is in situ anchored on the TiO2 surface to form Re1- x Mox S2 /TiO2 photocatalyst by a facial molten salt method. Remarkably, numerous visual H2 bubbles are constantly generated on the optimal Re0.92 Mo0.08 S2 /TiO2 sample with a 10.56 mmol g-1  h-1 rate (apparent quantum efficiency is about 50.6%), which is 2.6 times higher than that of traditional ReS2 /TiO2 sample. Density functional theory and in situ/ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results collectively demonstrate that the weakened Re─Re bond strength via Mo introduction can induce the formation of unique electron-deficient channel-S sites with suitable electron density, which yield thermoneutral S─H bonds to realize superior interfacial H2 -generation performance. This work provides fundamental guidance on purposely optimizing the electronic state of active sites by manipulating the intrinsic bonding structure, which opens an avenue for designing efficacious photocatalytic materials.

Modulating the Function of GeAs/ReS2 van der Waals Heterojunction with its Potential Application for Short-Wave Infrared and Polarization-Sensitive Photodetection

Van der Waals heterojunction (vdWs) of 2D materials with integrated or extended superior characteristics, opening up new opportunities in functional electronic and optoelectric device applications. Exploring methods to achieve multifunctional vdWs heterojunction devices is one of the most promising prospects in this area. Herein, a diverse function of forward rectifying diode, Zener tunneling diode, and backward rectifying diodes are realized in GeAs/ReS2 heterojunction by modulating the doping level of GeAs. The tunneling diode presents an interesting trend forward negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior which may facilitate the application of multi-value logic. More importantly, the GeAs/ReS2 forward rectifying diode exhibits highly sensitive photodetection in the wide-spectrum range up to 1550 nm corresponding to a short-wave infrared (SWIR) region. In addition, as two strong anisotropic 2D materials of GeAs and ReS2 , the heterojunction exhibits strong polarization-sensitive photodetection behavior with a dichroic photocurrent ratio of 1.7. This work provides an effective strategy to achieve multifunctional 2D vdW heterojunction devices and develops more possibilities to broaden their functionalities and applications.

ReS2 Nanoflowers-Assisted Confined Growth of Gold Nanoparticles for Ultrasensitive and Reliable SERS Sensing

ReS₂, as a new member of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), has emerged as a promising substrate for semiconductor surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) due to its unique optoelectronic properties. Nevertheless, the sensitivity of the ReS₂ SERS substrate poses a significant challenge to its widespread application in trace detection. In this work, we present a reliable approach for constructing a novel ReS₂/AuNPs SERS composite substrate, enabling ultrasensitive detection of trace amounts of organic pesticides. We demonstrate that the porous structures of ReS₂ nanoflowers can effectively confine the growth of AuNPs. By precisely controlling the size and distribution of AuNPs, numerous efficient and densely packed "hot spots" were created on the surface of ReS₂ nanoflowers. As a result of the synergistic enhancement of the chemical and electromagnetic mechanisms, the ReS₂/AuNPs SERS substrate demonstrates high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and superior stability in detecting typical organic dyes such as rhodamine 6G and crystalline violet. The ReS₂/AuNPs SERS substrate shows an ultralow detection limit of 10^-10 M and a linear detection of organic pesticide molecules within 10^-6-10^-10 M, which is significantly lower than the EU Environmental Protection Agency regulation standards. The strategy of constructing ReS₂/AuNPs composites would contribute to the development of highly sensitive and reliable SERS sensing platforms for food safety monitoring.

Freestanding ReS2/Graphene Heterostructures as Binder-Free Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

It is still challenging to develop anode materials with high capacity and long cycling stability for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). To address such issues, herein, for the first time, we present a three-dimensional and freestanding ReS₂/graphene heterostructure (3DRG) as an anode synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal method. The hybrid shows a hierarchically sandwich-like, nanoporous, and conductive three-dimensional (3D) network constructed by two-dimensional (2D) ReS₂/graphene heterostructural nanosheets, which can be directly utilized as a freestanding and binder-free anode for LIBs. When the current density is 100 mA g^-1, the 3DRG anode delivers a high reversible specific capacity of 653 mAh g^-1. The 3DRG anode also delivers higher rate capability and cycling stability than the bare ReS₂ anode. The markedly boosted electrochemical properties derive from the unique nanoarchitecture, which guarantees massive electrochemical active sites, short channels of lithium-ion diffusion, fast electron/ion transportation, and inhibition of the volume change of ReS₂ for LIBs.

Photocatalytic Applications of ReS2-Based Heterostructures

ReS2-based heterostructures, which involve the coupling of a narrow band-gap semiconductor ReS2 with other wide band-gap semiconductors, have shown promising performance in energy conversion and environmental pollution protection in recent years. This review focuses on the preparation methods, encompassing hydrothermal, chemical vapor deposition, and exfoliation techniques, as well as achievements in correlated applications of ReS2-based heterostructures, including type-I, type-II heterostructures, and Z-scheme heterostructures for hydrogen evolution, reduction of CO2, and degradation of pollutants. We believe that this review provides an overview of the most recent advances to guide further research and development of ReS2-based heterostructures for photocatalysis.

A novel ReS2–Nb2CTx composite as a sensing platform for ultrasensitive and selective electrochemical detection of dipyramidole from human serum

The electrochemical detection of dipyridamole (DIPY) is highly essential since it is extensively used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and to impart inhibitory effects for cancer patients. In this work, we report the development of a novel composite of MXene and ReS₂ (ReS₂–Nb₂CT_x) by hydrothermal method. It was found that Nb₂CT_x was partially oxidized and ReS₂ nanoparticles were distributed on the surface of Nb₂CT_x during the hydrothermal synthesis. The ReS₂–Nb₂CT_x was used to modify carbon cloth electrodes and used for the electrochemical detection of DIPY. The ratio of ReS₂ was optimized in the composite by varying the atomic ratio from 4 to 9 and it was found that 6ReS₂–Nb₂CT_x showed the best sensing characteristics owing to the optimum interaction between ReS₂ and Nb₂CT_x. The developed sensor was able to detect DIPY linearly in the range 100 pM–1 μM and achieved a limit of detection of (LOD) of 28 pM. The modified electrode exhibited excellent selectivity towards DIPY in the presence of other interferents in addition to its good storage stability and repeatability. Furthermore, the developed sensor was also used for the detection of DIPY in human serum samples. Thus, this work paves the way to develop MXene-based platform for fabrication of flexible device capable of monitoring the acute levels of DIPY.

Rydberg polaritons in ReS2 crystals

Rhenium disulfide belongs to group VII transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with attractive properties such as exceptionally high refractive index and remarkable oscillator strength, large in-plane birefringence, and good chemical stability. Unlike most other TMDs, the peculiar optical properties of rhenium disulfide persist from bulk to the monolayer, making this material potentially suitable for applications in optical devices. In this work, we demonstrate with unprecedented clarity the strong coupling between cavity modes and excited states, which results in a strong polariton interaction, showing the interest of these materials as a solid-state counterpart of Rydberg atomic systems. Moreover, we definitively clarify the nature of important spectral features, shedding light on some controversial aspects or incomplete interpretations and demonstrating that their origin is due to the interesting combination of the very high refractive index and the large oscillator strength expressed by these TMDs.

Scalable-doped Nanoporous 1T″ ReSe2 via a General Surface Co-Alloy Strategy

Reliable and controllable doping of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides is an efficient approach to tailor their physicochemical properties and expand their functional applications. However, precise control over dopant distribution and scalability of the process remains a challenge. Here, we report a general method to achieve scalable in situ doping of centimeter-sized bicontinuous nanoporous ReSe₂ films with transition metal atoms via surface coalloy growth. The distinct strains induced by the bending curvature of nanoporous structures and uniform dopants result in a local 1T' to 1T″ structure phase transition over nanoporous ReSe₂ films. The as-prepared nanoporous Ru-ReSe₂ with high 1T″ phase exhibits preferable electrochemical activity in hydrogen evolution reaction. The work demonstrates a unique and general approach to synthesize uniformly-doped transition metal dichalcogenides with 3D bicontinuous nanoporous structure, which can be scaled up to batch production for various applications.

Expanding the ReS2 Interlayer Promises High-Performance Potassium-Ion Storage

Improving the electrochemical kinetics and the intrinsic poor conductivity of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) electrodes is meaningful for developing next-generation energy storage systems. As one of the most promising TMD anode materials, ReS₂ shows attractive performance in potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). To overcome the poor kinetic ion diffusion and limited cycling stability of the ReS₂-based electrode, herein, the interlayer distance expanding strategy was employed, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was introduced into ReS₂. Few-layered ReS₂ nanosheets were grown on the surface of the rGO with expanded interlayer distance. The prepared ReS₂ nanosheets show an expanded distance (∼0.77 nm). The synthesized EI-ReS₂@rGO composites were used in PIBs as anode materials. The K-ion storage mechanism of the ReS₂-based anode was investigated by in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) technology, which shows the intercalation and conversion types. The EI-ReS₂@rGO nanocomposites show high specific capacities of 432.5, 316.5, and 241 mAh g^-1 under 0.05, 0.2, and 1.0 A g^-1 current densities and exhibit excellent reversibility at 1.0 A g^-1. Overall, this strategy, which finely tunes the local chemistry and orbital hybridization for high-performance PIBs, will open up a new field for other materials.

A Review on Rhenium Disulfide: Synthesis Approaches, Optical Properties, and Applications in Pulsed Lasers

Rhenium Disulfide (ReS₂) has evolved as a novel 2D transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) material which has promising applications in optoelectronics and photonics because of its distinctive anisotropic optical properties. Saturable absorption property of ReS₂ has been utilized to fabricate saturable absorber (SA) devices to generate short pulses in lasers systems. The results were outstanding, including high-repetition-rate pulses, large modulation depth, multi-wavelength pulses, broadband operation and low saturation intensity. In this review, we emphasize on formulating SAs based on ReS₂ to produce pulsed lasers in the visible, near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelength regions with pulse durations down to femtosecond using mode-locking or Q-switching technique. We outline ReS₂ synthesis techniques and integration platforms concerning solid-state and fiber-type lasers. We discuss the laser performance based on SAs attributes. Lastly, we draw conclusions and discuss challenges and future directions that will help to advance the domain of ultrafast photonic technology.

A light-fostered supercapacitor performance of multi-layered ReS2 grown on conducting substrates

The light-fostered supercapacitor performance introduces a new realm in the field of smart energy storage applications. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with direct band gap are intriguing candidates for developing a light-induced supercapacitor that can enhance energy storage when shined with light. Many TMDCs show a transition from a direct to indirect band gap as the layer number increases, while ReS2 possesses a direct band gap in both bulk and monolayer forms. The growth of such multi-layered 2D materials with high surface area on conducting substrates makes them suitable for smart energy storage applications with the ability to tune their performance with light irradiation. In this report, we present the growth of vertically aligned multi-layered ReS2 with large areal coverage on various conducting and non-conducting substrates, including stainless steel via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). To investigate the effect of light illumination on the charge storage performance, electrochemical measurements have been performed in dark and light conditions. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves showed an increase in the area enclosed by the curve, manifesting the increased charge storage capacity under light illumination as compared to dark. The volumetric capacitance value calculated from charging-discharging curves has increased from 17.9 F cm-3 to 29.8 F cm-3 with the irradiation of light for the as-grown ReS2 on a stainless steel plate. More than 1.5 times the capacitance enhancement is attributed to excess electron-hole pairs generated upon light illumination, contributing to the charge storage in the presence of light. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further augments these results. The high cyclic stability is attained with a capacitance retention value of 81% even after 10 000 repeated charging-discharging cycles.

2D Re-Based Transition Metal Chalcogenides: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

The rise of 2D transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) materials has enormous implications for the scientific community and beyond. Among TMDs, ReX2 (X = S, Se) has attracted significant interest regarding its unusual 1T' structure and extraordinary properties in various fields during the past 7 years. For instance, ReX2 possesses large bandgaps (ReSe2: 1.3 eV, ReS2: 1.6 eV), distinctive interlayer decoupling, and strong anisotropic properties, which endow more degree of freedom for constructing novel optoelectronic, logic circuit, and sensor devices. Moreover, facile ion intercalation, abundant active sites, together with stable 1T' structure enable them great perspective to fabricate high-performance catalysts and advanced energy storage devices. In this review, the structural features, fundamental physicochemical properties, as well as all existing applications of Re-based TMDs materials are comprehensively introduced. Especially, the emerging synthesis strategies are critically analyzed and pay particular attention is paid to its growth mechanism with probing the assembly process of domain architectures. Finally, current challenges and future opportunities regarding the controlled preparation methods, property, and application exploration of Re-based TMDs are discussed.

Hydrogen-Etched Bifunctional Sulfur-Defect-Rich ReS2 /CC Electrocatalyst for Highly Efficient HER and OER

The design on synthesizing a sturdy, low-cost, clean, and sustainable electrocatalyst, as well as achieving high performance with low overpotential and good durability toward water splitting, is fairly vital in environmental and energy-related subject. Herein, for the first time the growth of sulfur (S) defect engineered self-supporting array electrode composed of metallic Re and ReS₂ nanosheets on carbon cloth (referred as Re/ReS₂ /CC) via a facile hydrothermal method and the following thermal treatment with H₂ /N₂ flow is reported. It is expected that, for example, the as-prepared Re/ReS₂ -7H/CC for the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under acidic medium affords a quite low overpotential of 42 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 and a very small Tafel slope of 36 mV decade^-1 , which are comparable to some of the promising HER catalysts. Furthermore, in the two-electrode system, a small cell voltage of 1.30 V is recorded under alkaline condition. Characterizations and density functional theory results expound that the introduced S defects in Re/ReS₂ -7H/CC can offer abundant active sites to advantageously capture electron, enhance the electron transport capacity, and weaken the adsorption free energy of H* at the active sites, being responsible for its superior electrocatalytic performance.

Surface-Induced 2D/1D Heterostructured Growth of ReS2/CoS2 for High-Performance Electrocatalysts

Two-dimensional/one-dimensional (2D/1D) heterostructures have received much attention from researchers for their abundant catalytically active sites and low contact resistance due to formation of chemical bonds at the interface. The investigation of such heterostructures, however, is confined to lattice-matched materials, which severely limits the material candidates. Herein, we demonstrate a lattice-mismatched 2D/1D heterostructured electrocatalyst consisting of 2D ReS₂ nanosheets and 1D CoS₂ nanowires. We propose that the higher surface energy of the CoS₂ nanowire and the lattice mismatch between 1D and 2D units are crucial for the growth process of ReS₂ nanosheets. More importantly, the terminal S^2- exposed on the surface of CoS₂ nanowires serves not only as the nucleus of ReS₂ nanosheets but also as a bridge to enhance electron transport efficiency. Thus, the ReS₂/CoS₂ heterostructures show outstanding hydrogen evolution reaction performance. This work is of general interest for the design of complex multidimensional nano-heterostructures with outstanding functionalities.

MoS2-ReS2 Heterojunctions from a Bimetallic Co-chamber Feeding Atomic Layer Deposition for Ultrasensitive MiRNA-21 Detection

Rhenium disulfide (ReS₂), which possessed a unique direct band gap from the bulk to monolayer, played a very important role in establishing optoelectronic devices, while the rapid recombination of electron-hole pairs might hinder its further applications. Therefore, to improve its photocurrent performance, a bimetallic co-chamber feeding atomic layer deposition (ALD) with a precise dose regulation strategy was used to fabricate MoS₂-ReS₂ heterojunctions with a controllable Mo-to-Re ratio in this work. Furthermore, because of the controlled addition of Mo atoms, the electron-transfer capacity, carrier mobility, and photocurrent response of these heterojunctions were significantly improved among which the sample obtained under 100 supercycles (one supercycle for this sample consists of the following in turn: one ReCl₅ pulse, one H₂S pulse, one ReCl₅ pulse, one MoCl₅ pulse, and one H₂S pulse; the real Mo-to-Re ratio R_r = 57.9%) exhibited the best photocurrent response. Due to the significant improvement in optoelectronic performance, a photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor with the basis of the above optimized sample could achieve the ultrasensitive detection of cancer-related miRNA-21 ranging from 10 aM to 1 nM with a low detection limit of 2.8 aM.

Dual-Enhanced Doping in ReSe2 for Efficiently Photoenhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Rhenium dichalcogenides (ReX2, X = S or Se) are catalysts that have great promise for the photoenhanced hydrogen evolution reaction (PE-HER) because of their unique physiochemical properties. However, the catalytic performance is still restricted by their low concentration of electrocatalytic activity sites and poor injection of hot electrons. Herein, dual-enhancement in ReSe2 nanosheets (NSs) with high concentration of active sites and efficient use of hot electrons is simultaneously achieved with moderate Mo doping. Contributions from exposed catalytically active sites, improved electrical conductivity, and enhanced solar spectral response are systematically investigated. Superior PE-HER catalytical performance is obtained in Re0.94Mo0.06Se2, which has more catalytically active sites and optimized band structure than other Re1- x Mo x Se2 samples. Here, it is demonstrated that only doping can reduce the overpotential (η10) from 239 to 174 mV at -10 mA cm-2 (Δ1η10 = 65 mV). Then, η10 is further improved to 137 mV under simulated AM 1.5 sun illumination (Δ2η10 = 37 mV). The total improvement (Δη10) toward PE-HER is 102 mV (Δ1η10 + Δ2η10 = 102 mV) in optimal Re0.94Mo0.06Se2. This work presents a new perspective for researching high-efficiency photoenhanced HER ReSe2-based electrocatalysts and other layered transition metal dichalcogenides.

Distorted 1T-ReS2 Nanosheets Anchored on Porous TiO2 Nanofibers for Highly Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Recently, loading TiO₂ with transition-metal disulfides (TMDs) to construct dual functional heterostructures has been widely researched as an effective strategy to improve the photocatalytic performance of a TiO₂ photocatalyst. For the TMD cocatalysts, the 2H-MoS₂ and 1T-MoS₂ have been widely studied and researched. However, they suffer from poor catalytic activity sites/low charge transfer ability and an unstable structure. In this regard, distorted 1T-phase TMDs with a stable structure are greatly fit for the cocatalyst due to their high charge transfer ability and rich catalytic sites on both the edge and basal plane. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop distorted 1T-phase TMD/TiO₂ heterostructures with well-identified interfaces for highly enhanced photocatalytic performance. Herein, we first introduce distorted 1T-ReS₂ anchored on porous TiO₂ nanofibers as a promising photocatalyst for achieving an excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production. The excellent performance is attributed to the strong chemical interaction of the Ti-O-Re bond between TiO₂ and ReS₂, the excellent electron mobility of distorted 1T-ReS₂, and the abundant catalytic activity sites on both the plane and edge of the ReS₂ cocatalyst.