An electrocatalyst comprising molybdenum disulfide nanosheets with dispersed iron phosphide nanoparticles is described. The molybdenum disulfide nanosheets may have an average length in a range of 300 nm-1 μm and the iron phosphide nanoparticles may have an average diameter in a range of 5-20 nm. The electrocatalyst may have an electroactive surface area in a range of 10-50 mF·cm−2 when deposited on a working electrode for use in a hydrogen evolution reaction.