Overwhelming the Performance of Single Atoms with Atomic Clusters for Platinum-Catalyzed Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

As one of the dominant configurations, platinum (Pt) single atomic catalysts (SACs) have pushed the performance of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to an unprecedented level due to the maximized atomic utilization efficiency of Pt atoms. However, the contribution of atomic clusters, which exist in SACs as well, to the overall catalytic performance is always overlooked, thus limiting further enhancement of the performance of Pt-catalyzed HER. Herein, we report anchoring Pt atomic clusters on N-doped graphene for ultrahigh performance of the HER. Benefiting from optimized electron transfer and larger binding energy between active centers and the substrate, Pt atomic cluster catalysts (ACCs) exhibit higher catalytic activity than their single atomic counterparts after 4000 cycles and more than 16 h for HER in an acid solution. These findings reveal a vast opportunity to enhance the catalytic performance of chemical reactions with noble-metal-based ACCs in the near future.

Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyzed by Carbon-Supported Platinum Few-Atom Clusters: Significant Enhancement by Doping of Atomic Cobalt

“…Fitting of the EXAFS data (Table S4 ) yields a Pt-N bond of ca. 2.0 Å for the Pt-NC-1, PtCo-NC-1, Pt-NC-3, and PtCo-NC-3 samples [ 47 ], in agreement with results from the EELS study ( Figure 2(b) ). This is also consistent with results obtained from DFT calculations, where the Pt-N bond length is found to be 1.95 Å-2.08 Å in different configurations (Figure S1 ).…”

Selective Adsorption and Electrocatalysis of Polysulfides through Hexatomic Nickel Clusters Embedded in N-Doped Graphene toward High-Performance Li-S Batteries

“…No Ni-derived nanoparticles are detected in high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) except for the lattice stripes of graphene ( Figure S2). The N/G composite and GNs along with wrinkled surfaces also exhibit a characteristic graphene diffraction ring, consistent with the former research ( Figures S3-S4) [21]. The size of independent carbonized Ni-ZIF particles (Ni-N/C) is around 250 nm ( Figure S5).…”

TiO2 Nanotubes Supported PtOx Nanoclusters with Enhanced Mass Activity for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

“…An overpotential of −35 mV was sufficient to deliver −10 mA cm −2 due to the modified electronic structure of Pt atoms after the adsorption on nitrogen‐doped graphene [5a] . A recent study demonstrated that Pt atomic clusters anchored to N‐doped graphene exhibit superior activity and stability than that of Pt single atoms, mainly due to the interaction with the pyridinic N contents in the support [9] . Platinum single‐atom anchored on functionalized MWCNTs also showed high activity and durability for HER in acidic electrolyte [10] …”