The Polymer Society of Korea

주민성 (전남대학교)

윤현석 (전남대학교)

An environmentally mild method was developed for tuning the structural phase of MoS₂ in 2D nanomaterials using ethanol and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone), followed by solvent-free drying and annealing. This process yielded heterolayered 2D nanohybrids incorporating binary metal oxide nanoparticles. Ethanol effectively exfoliated MoS₂ and graphene nanosheets, while the incorporation of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and functional groups on graphene enhanced electron donation to Mo 4d orbitals, converting MoS₂ from a semiconductor into a metallic phase. The synthesized nanohybrids exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions via component synergy. Density functional theory and Tafel slope analysis confirmed reduced activation energies during key catalytic steps. Moreover, these nanohybrids maintained stability in eco-friendly hydrogel cells after repeated deswelling–swelling, demonstrating potential for sustainable water splitting.