Ionic Surfactant-Modified Few-Layer MoS2 for High-Efficiency Solar-Driven Electrocatalytic Water Splitting Gowthambabu Vellingiri, Manjupriya Jothi, Paulraj Gnanasekar, Tien Khee Ng, Boon S. Ooi, Jeganathan Kulandaivel Langmuir the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids, 2025 High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The quest to eliminate environmentally harmful fuels is underway, with green hydrogen emerging as a promising solution. In this study, we developed a highly effective few-layer MoS 2 catalyst using a two-step method involving liquid-phase exfoliation assisted by surfactants such as Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) and Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) and followed by hydrothermal reaction for the overall water splitting. Morphological, structural, and chemical characterizations confirmed the reduction in the number of layers and increased bandgap of MoS 2 -SDS through liquid phase exfoliation. Further, the effect of the surfactants on the electrocatalytic water splitting performance was evaluated, and it was found that SDS surfactant aided MoS 2 (MoS 2 -SDS) demonstrated exceptional performance for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The electrodes demonstrated low overpotentials for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER η 10 = 125 mV) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER η 10 = 213 mV), accompanied by a high surface area, significantly low charge transfer resistance, and electrochemical durability for over 20 h. In addition, overall water splitting performance was evaluated over 110 h with a Faradaic efficiency of over 90% and energy conversion efficiency of 60%. For a sustainable future, green hydrogen generated via renewable solar energy using few-layer MoS 2 -SDS has emerged as a highly promising alternative to noble metal-based catalysts for practical electrocatalytic alkaline water splitting.
Graphene-Interfaced NiCu-Layered Double Hydroxide Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Production via Water Splitting Manjupriya Jothi, Paulraj Gnanasekar, Gowthambabu Vellingiri, Suwathaa Venkataprabha, Tien Khee Ng, Boon S. Ooi, Jeganathan Kulandaivel ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2025 The widespread use of robust catalysts for water-splitting remains limited in practical use due to the instability of conductive supports in harsh electrolytes. This instability leads to the loss of electrocatalytic activity, eventually rendering the electrocatalyst ineffective. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more robust and stable electrocatalysts that can withstand harsh conditions and ensure long-term durability and sustainability. We address this challenge by introducing a highly stable hybrid electrode that combines graphene-coated nickel foam with nickel and copper-layered double hydroxide (NiCu-LDH) for water splitting. This unique hybrid electrode has enabled us to achieve 420 h of overall water-splitting performance at the applied potential of 2 V. To optimize the catalyst for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), we systematically investigated different Ni/Cu ratios in the NiCu-LDH. The exceptional stability of these NiCu-LDH hybrid electrodes, particularly the interfacial graphene layer, makes them highly promising for long-lasting and effective water-splitting applications. The synergistic interaction between the NiCu-LDH and graphene layers, and its unique two-dimensional structure with robust carbon–carbon bonds confer exceptional structural integrity, empowering the electrode to withstand deformation and maintain its catalytic performance over extended periods.
Antimicrobial activity of graphene oxide-metal hybrids K.A. Whitehead, M. Vaidya, C.M. Liauw, D.A.C. Brownson, P. Ramalingam, J. Kamieniak, S.J. Rowley-Neale, L.A. Tetlow, J.S.T. Wilson-Nieuwenhuis, D. Brown, A.J. McBain, J. Kulandaivel, C.E. Banks International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 2017
Effects of O7+ swift heavy ion irradiation on indium oxide thin films V. Gokulakrishnan, S. Parthiban, E. Elangovan, K. Ramamurthi, K. Jeganathan, D. Kanjilal, K. Asokan, R. Martins, E. Fortunato Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 2011
Self-assembled growth of GaN nanowires R K Debnath, R Meijers, K Jeganathan, T Richter, T Stoica, R Calarco, H Lüth Journal of Physics Conference Series, 2008
Investigations on the liquid phase epitaxial growth of GaAs using Ga-As-Bi solution Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering, 1998
Design of dual-functional BiVO4-SnO2 nanocomposites for high photocatalytic activity and strong nonlinear optical response S Rajkumar, SV Perumalsamy, SGT Chidambaram, J Kulandaivel, ... Materials Science and Engineering: B 330, 119542 , 2026 2026
BiVO4-g-C3N4 nanocomposites as multifunctional materials for photocatalytic dye degradation and nonlinear optical applications K Nagarajan, S Rajkumar, SV Perumalsamy, SGT Chidambaram, ... Optical Materials 174, 117980 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Performance evaluation of a 3D printed alkaline electrochemical cell with NiFeCo-LDH/rGO/nickel foam electrode for sustainable oxygen evolution K Raju, V Ravi, M Jothi, J Kulandaivel Materials Letters, 140486 , 2026 2026
Synergistic effects of BiVO4–MoS2 nanocomposites in photocatalytic dye degradation and nonlinear optical properties S Rajkumar, K Nagarajan, SV Perumalsamy, SGT Chidambaram, ... Materials Science and Engineering: B 324, 118993 , 2026 2026 Citations: 2
Closing the nitrogen loop: sustainable ammonia production from industrial nitrate waste using a stacked electrolyzer P Gnanasekar, G Vellingiri, MJ AlTammar, K Peramaiah, J Kulandaivel, ... Nanoscale , 2026 2026
Ni/Co-doped 1T/2H MoS 2 as a robust bifunctional electrocatalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution in both acidic and alkaline media P Gurusamy, K Nagarajan, SV Perumalsamy, T Pandian, J Kulandaivel, ... Nanoscale , 2026 2026
Ionic Surfactant-Modified Few-Layer MoS 2 for High-Efficiency Solar-Driven Electrocatalytic Water Splitting G Vellingiri, M Jothi, P Gnanasekar, TK Ng, BS Ooi, J Kulandaivel Langmuir 41 (48), 32534-32545 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Graphene-Interfaced NiCu-Layered Double Hydroxide Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Production via Water Splitting M Jothi, P Gnanasekar, G Vellingiri, S Venkataprabha, TK Ng, BS Ooi, ... ACS Applied Nano Materials 8 (25), 13172-13180 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Investigation of the photo-Fenton efficiency and dielectric properties of BiVO 4 /α-Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposites S Rajkumar, SV Perumalsamy, J Kulandaivel, T Paramasivam, ... Ionics 31 (5), 5085-5098 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Preparation and characterization of BiVO 4 -ZnO nanocomposite as heterogeneous photocatalysts for wastewater treatment and enhanced electrode performance K Nagarajan, SV Perumalsamy, V Seenivasan, J Kulandaivel, ... Ionics 31 (3), 2807-2820 , 2025 2025 Citations: 7
A computational investigation on transition metal substituted two-dimensional pentagonal nickel diazenide (NiN 2) for the hydrogen evolution reaction via water splitting S Venkataprabha, M Amrutha, J Kulandaivel, B Chakraborty Sustainable Energy & Fuels 9 (17), 4748-4760 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Layered Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 perovskite nanosheets on TiO 2 nanorods for high-performance heterostructure photodetectors G Ashokan, S Subramani, G Vellingiri, A Nallathambi, J Kulandaivel Journal of Materials Chemistry C 13 (6), 2978-2986 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Exploration of photocatalytic dye degradation and non-linear optical absorption of BiVO 4 –TiO 2 nanocomposites S Rajkumar, SV Perumalsamy, SGT Chidambaram, J Kulandaivel, ... Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics 35 (35), 2209 , 2024 2024 Citations: 9
Synthesis of Ni-doped 1T/2H MoS2 nanoparticles as an efficient and stable bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water-splitting P Gurusamy, SV Perumalsamy, P Gnanasekar, J Kulandaivel, ... International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 77, 244-252 , 2024 2024 Citations: 17
Non-Noble Metal–Organic Framework (CuV-MOF) on Graphene-Coated Nickel Foam Enables High-Performance Overall Natural Seawater Splitting M Jothi, P Gnanasekar, BS Ooi, J Kulandaivel The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 128 (31), 12799-12807 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Artificial photosynthetic approach steers hydrogen evolution with bismuth selenide nanoflakes decorated silicon nanowires K Raju, KK Gopalakrishnan, G Ashokan, J Kulandaivel Materials Letters 366, 136571 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
α-Fe2O3/ZnO nanocomposite as an efficient photocatalyst for wastewater treatment and flexible electronic device applications S Sridharan, SV Perumalsamy, J Kulandaivel, G Nammalwar, ... Ionics 30 (2), 1137-1150 , 2024 2024 Citations: 21
Protecting and enhancing the photoelectrocatalytic performance of InGaN nanowires toward nitrogen reduction to ammonia synthesis P Gnanasekar, K Peramaiah, H Zhang, MK Eswaran, RR Pradhan, ... ACS Applied Energy Materials 6 (21), 10784-10793 , 2023 2023 Citations: 9
Highly efficient In2S3 nanosphere decorated WO3/Bi2WO6 dual heterostructure nanoflake arrays for enhanced low bias watersplitting under visible light irradiation S Sadhasivam, N Anbarasan, A Gunasekaran, T Sadhasivam, ... Surfaces and Interfaces 39, 102892 , 2023 2023 Citations: 13
Hydrothermally synthesized rGO-BiVO4 nanocomposites for photocatalytic degradation of RhB N Kannan, PS Venkatesh, MG Babu, G Paulraj, K Jeganathan Chemical Physics Impact 6, 100230 , 2023 2023 Citations: 28
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Plant extract mediated synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles and its antibacterial activity against clinically isolated pathogens D MubarakAli, N Thajuddin, K Jeganathan, M Gunasekaran Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 85 (2), 360-365 , 2011 2011 Citations: 1167
High performance, self-powered photodetectors based on a graphene/silicon Schottky junction diode D Periyanagounder, P Gnanasekar, P Varadhan, JH He, J Kulandaivel Journal of Materials Chemistry C 6 (35), 9545-9551 , 2018 2018 Citations: 211
A facile hydrothermal synthesis of SrTiO3 for dye sensitized solar cell application P Jayabal, V Sasirekha, J Mayandi, K Jeganathan, V Ramakrishnan Journal of Alloys and Compounds 586, 456-461 , 2014 2014 Citations: 162
Doxorubicin conjugated gold nanorods: a sustained drug delivery carrier for improved anticancer therapy R Venkatesan, A Pichaimani, K Hari, PK Balasubramanian, J Kulandaivel, ... Journal of Materials Chemistry B 1 (7), 1010-1018 , 2013 2013 Citations: 133
Vertically aligned MoS 2 nanosheets on graphene for highly stable electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions P Gnanasekar, D Periyanagounder, J Kulandaivel Nanoscale 11 (5), 2439-2446 , 2019 2019 Citations: 123
A versatile effect of chitosan-silver nanocomposite for surface plasmonic photocatalytic and antibacterial activity A Nithya, HL JeevaKumari, K Rokesh, K Ruckmani, K Jeganathan, ... Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 153, 412-422 , 2015 2015 Citations: 119
Raman scattering of phonon-plasmon coupled modes in self-assembled GaN nanowires K Jeganathan, RK Debnath, R Meijers, T Stoica, R Calarco, ... Journal of applied physics 105 (12) , 2009 2009 Citations: 114
A novel rutin-fucoidan complex based phytotherapy for cervical cancer through achieving enhanced bioavailability and cancer cell apoptosis MS Deepika, R Thangam, TS Sheena, R Sasirekha, S Sivasubramanian, ... Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 109, 1181-1195 , 2019 2019 Citations: 110
Synthesis and characterization of BiVO 4 nanoparticles for environmental applications M Ganeshbabu, N Kannan, PS Venkatesh, G Paulraj, K Jeganathan, ... RSC advances 10 (31), 18315-18322 , 2020 2020 Citations: 108
Facile synthesis of WO 3 with reduced particle size on zeolite and enhanced photocatalytic activity K Jothivenkatachalam, S Prabhu, A Nithya, K Jeganathan Rsc Advances 4 (41), 21221-21229 , 2014 2014 Citations: 108
Point defects assisted NH3 gas sensing properties in ZnO nanostructures PS Venkatesh, P Dharmaraj, V Purushothaman, V Ramakrishnan, ... Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 212, 10-17 , 2015 2015 Citations: 99
Electrical, optical and structural properties of aluminum doped cadmium oxide thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique R Kumaravel, S Menaka, SRM Snega, K Ramamurthi, K Jeganathan Materials Chemistry and Physics 122 (2-3), 444-448 , 2010 2010 Citations: 99
Transition metal doped MoS2 nanosheets for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction PS Venkatesh, N Kannan, MG Babu, G Paulraj, K Jeganathan International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 47 (88), 37256-37263 , 2022 2022 Citations: 92
A potential photocatalytic, antimicrobial and anticancer activity of chitosan-copper nanocomposite N Arjunan, CM Singaravelu, J Kulanthaivel, J Kandasamy International journal of biological macromolecules 104, 1774-1782 , 2017 2017 Citations: 91
Role of deoxy group on the high concentration of graphene in surfactant/water media P Ramalingam, ST Pusuluri, S Periasamy, R Veerabahu, J Kulandaivel RSC advances 3 (7), 2369-2378 , 2013 2013 Citations: 83
Investigation on the effect of Zr doping in ZnO thin films by spray pyrolysis V Gokulakrishnan, S Parthiban, K Jeganathan, K Ramamurthi Applied Surface Science 257 (21), 9068-9072 , 2011 2011 Citations: 82
Investigations on the structural, optical and electrical properties of Nb-doped SnO 2 thin films V Gokulakrishnan, S Parthiban, K Jeganathan, K Ramamurthi Journal of materials science 46 (16), 5553-5558 , 2011 2011 Citations: 79
Lattice-matched InAlN/GaN two-dimensional electron gas with high mobility and sheet carrier density by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy K Jeganathan, M Shimizu, H Okumura, Y Yano, N Akutsu Journal of crystal growth 304 (2), 342-345 , 2007 2007 Citations: 74
Antimicrobial activity of graphene oxide-metal hybrids KA Whitehead, M Vaidya, CM Liauw, DAC Brownson, P Ramalingam, ... International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 123, 182-190 , 2017 2017 Citations: 61
Role of point defects on the enhancement of room temperature ferromagnetism in ZnO nanorods PS Venkatesh, V Purushothaman, SE Muthu, S Arumugam, ... CrystEngComm 14 (14), 4713-4718 , 2012 2012 Citations: 61
