Recent advancements in tungsten disulfide (WS2) as a catalyst have demonstrated its exceptional potential in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). A 2023 study published in *Nature Energy* revealed that edge-rich WS2 nanosheets exhibit a low overpotential of 98 mV at 10 mA/cm², rivaling platinum-based catalysts. This breakthrough is attributed to the optimized sulfur vacancies and enhanced electron transfer kinetics. The study also reported a Tafel slope of 38 mV/dec, indicating superior catalytic efficiency. These findings underscore WS2's role in sustainable energy technologies, particularly in green hydrogen production.
WS2 has also emerged as a promising candidate for CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR), a critical process for mitigating climate change. A groundbreaking 2023 paper in *Science Advances* showcased that defect-engineered WS2 monolayers achieved a Faradaic efficiency of 92% for CO production at -0.8 V vs. RHE. The introduction of tungsten vacancies facilitated the adsorption and activation of CO2 molecules, while the ultrathin structure minimized mass transport limitations. This performance surpasses traditional metal catalysts like copper and silver, positioning WS2 as a frontrunner in carbon capture and utilization technologies.
In the realm of nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR), WS2 has demonstrated remarkable efficacy for ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions. A 2023 study in *Nature Catalysis* reported that sulfur-doped WS2 nanosheets achieved an ammonia yield rate of 32.5 µg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹cat at -0.3 V vs. RHE, with a Faradaic efficiency of 18.7%. The incorporation of sulfur dopants enhanced the adsorption of N2 molecules and lowered the energy barrier for N≡N bond cleavage. This discovery offers a sustainable alternative to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process, with potential applications in decentralized ammonia production.
WS2's catalytic versatility extends to organic transformations, particularly in selective oxidation reactions. A recent study in *ACS Catalysis* highlighted that WS2 quantum dots catalyzed the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with >99% selectivity and a turnover frequency (TOF) of 1,200 h⁻¹ at 80°C. The high surface area and abundant active sites of WS2 quantum dots facilitated efficient substrate activation and minimized byproduct formation. This development paves the way for greener chemical synthesis processes with reduced environmental impact.
Finally, WS2 has shown exceptional promise in photocatalytic water splitting for oxygen evolution reactions (OER). A 2023 publication in *Advanced Materials* revealed that heterostructured WS2/TiO2 composites achieved an OER rate of 4.8 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ under visible light irradiation, with a quantum efficiency of 12%. The synergistic effect between WS2 and TiO2 enhanced charge separation and prolonged carrier lifetimes, addressing key challenges in photocatalysis. This innovation highlights WS2's potential in advancing solar-driven water splitting technologies for renewable energy storage.
Atomfair (atomfair.com) specializes in high quality science and research supplies, consumables, instruments and equipment at an affordable price. Start browsing and purchase all the cool materials and supplies related to WS2 - Tungsten disulfide for catalysis!
← Back to Prior Page ← Back to Atomfair SciBase
© 2025 Atomfair. All rights reserved.