Rational Design of Atomic Layers of Pt Anchored on Mo₂C Nanorods for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution over a Wide pH Range

Abstract

Electrocatalytic water splitting has been one of the most promising routes for efficient H 2 production, which can work as a practical way to store the excess electricity generated by solar panel, wind, and nuclear reactor. Although platinum group Transition metal carbide compound has been extensively investigated as a catalyst for hydrogenation, for example, due to its noble metal-like properties. Herein a facile synthetic strategy is applied to control the thickness of atomiclayer Pt clusters strongly anchored on N-doped Mo 2 C nanorods (Pt/N-Mo 2 C) and it is found that the Pt atomic layers modify Mo 2 C function as a high-performance and robust catalyst for hydrogen evolution. The optimized 1.08 wt% Pt/N-Mo 2 C exhibits 25-fold, 10-fold, and 15-fold better mass activity than the benchmark 20 wt% Pt/C in neutral, acidic, and alkaline media, respectively. This catalyst also represents an extremely low overpotential of −8.3 mV at current density of 10 mA cm −2 , much better than the majority of reported electrocatalysts and even the commercial reference catalyst (20 wt%) Pt/C. Furthermore, it exhibits an outstanding long-term operational durability of 120 h. Theoretical calculation predicts that the ultrathin layer of Pt clusters on Mo-Mo 2 C yields the lowest absolute value of ΔG H* . Experimental results demonstrate that the atomic layer of Pt clusters anchored on Mo 2 C substrate greatly enhances electron and mass transportation efficiency and structural stability. These findings could provide the foundation for developing highly effective and scalable hydrogen evolution catalysts.

Nanostructured Molybdenum Oxides from Aluminium-Based Intermetallic Compound: Synthesis and Application in Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

“…A sheet of pure Pt (2 cm 2 ) was polished on the surface as per conventional metallography and used for comparison with the samples in the same experimental conditions. All potentials were reported to the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) adding a value of (0.199 + 0.059 pH) V. The electrochemically active surface area of the samples (ECSA) was estimated using the double layer capacitance method [ 20 , 41 , 42 ]. All measurements were performed in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 solution using a three-electrode cell similar to that utilized for the HER tests.…”

Surface and Interface Engineering: Molybdenum Carbide–Based Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Energy Conversion

“…[137][138][139] The electronic effect at the metal/Mo x C interfaces can create unique electronic properties due to the coupled interaction between the metal and Mo x C support. [37,[140][141][142] For example, Qiu et al [143] synthesized Pt clusters strongly anchored on N-doped Mo 2 C nanorods (Pt/N-Mo 2 C) composite via a solventhermal method followed by calcination treatment. Figure 7e displayed that abundant Pt clusters (green rectangle) and even bright single atomic Pt (red circle) were obviously observed in the sample.…”

Promoting Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction and Oxygen Evolution Reaction by Fields: Effects of Electric Field, Magnetic Field, Strain, and Light

“…Currently, most efforts have been taken on the search for new materials, [ 14–16 ] regulation of morphology, [ 17 ] crystallinity, [ 18 ] facet, [ 19 ] component, [ 20–24 ] defect, [ 25,26 ] matter phase, [ 27,28 ] or the compositing of various materials with synergy. [ 29–36 ] However, the performances of emerging nonnoble electrocatalysts still lag behind those of noble ones.…”