Switchable Local Ferroelectric Order Enables Reversible HER Modulation in Irradiated 2H-MoTe 2

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Abstract
Two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenides have attracted significant interest for advanced functional materials due to their tunable electronic structures and polymorphic phase transitions. However, achieving dynamically switchable room-temperature ferroelectricity remains a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate that Ar+ ion beam irradiation induces controlled Te vacancies in monolayer 2H-MoTe2, triggering robust out-of-plane ferroelectric polarization at 300 K. Through polarization-resolved second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy and low-temperature spectroscopic characterization, we verify the ion-beam-induced symmetry breaking and the formation of nonuniform ferroelectric domains with switchable polarization states. Comprehensive switching spectroscopy piezoresponse force microscopy (SS-PFM) with rigorous artifact mitigation reveals reversible 180° polarization switching, confirmed by characteristic phase hysteresis and symmetric amplitude butterfly loops. Crucially, polarity-dependent linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) demonstrates that hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity can be reversibly modulated by polarization switching: positive poling reduces the overpotential, while negative poling degrades it, establishing a direct causal link between ferroelectric state and catalytic performance. Remarkably, this defect-engineered ferroelectric polarization modifies the interfacial charge distribution, optimizing the hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔGH*) from 1.86 eV (pristine) to −0.27 eV (irradiated), thereby significantly enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. This work establishes ferroelectric polarization as a primary descriptor for electrocatalytic enhancement and provides a defect-engineering strategy for designing adaptive nanocatalysts.
Funding Information
  • Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2042024kf0001)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (12025503)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (12275198)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (12422515)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (U23B2072)

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