Catalytic Properties of Vanadium Diselenide: A Comprehensive Study on Its Electrocatalytic Performance in Alkaline, Neutral, and Acidic Media

Here, we report the synthesis of vanadium diselenide (VSe2) three-dimensional nanoparticles (NPs) and two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets (NSs) utilizing nanosecond pulsed laser ablation technique followed by liquid-phase exfoliation. Furthermore, a systematicstudy has been conducted on the effect of NP and NS morphologies of VSe2 in their catalytic activities toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline, neutral, and acidic conditions: Research on VSe2 clearly demonstrates that these morphologies do not have a significant difference for ORR and OER; however, a drastic effect of morphology was observed for HER The ORR activity of both NSs and NPs involves similar to 2.85 numbers of electrons with the Tafel slope of 120 mV/dec in alkaline and neutral pH. In alkaline solution, NPs are proved to be an efficient catalyst for OER with an onset potential 1.5 V; however, for HER, NSs have a better onset potential of -0.25 V. Moreover, the obtained NPs have also better catalytic activity with a 400 mV anodic shift in the onset potential compared to NSs. These results provide a reference point for the future application of VSe2 in energy storage and conversion devices and mass production of other 2D materials.