Ultrafine PtMo Nanocrystals Confined on N‐Doped Carbon Toward Efficient pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Pt‐based nanocrystals with tunable electronic structure and optimized atom efficiency are essential for boosting the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance and further industrial application. However, the synthesis of uniform and ordered nanocrystals is still a challenge due to the uncontrollable size growth of metal particles, restricting the active sites toward the desired catalytic activity. Herein, the synthesis of ultrafine bimetal PtMo nanocrystals on N‐doped carbon (PtMo‐NC) through an anchoring‐sites engineering strategy is reported, in which the N‐rich carbon can provide abundant sites to anchor the metal atoms and suppress the over aggregation. The PtMo‐NC catalyst exhibits superior HER performance in both alkaline and acidic conditions, delivering a smaller overpotential (80 mV and 63 mV) at a current density of 100 mA cm−2 in alkaline and acidic media. Theoretical calculations reveal that the introduction of Mo atom into Pt can reduce the energy barrier of water molecule dissociation and optimize the H intermediate absorption strength on Pt sites, thus boosting the catalytic HER performance. This study offers a universal strategy to design ultrafine nanocatalysts to achieve high‐efficiency electrocatalysis.

Modulating the electronic structure of Ni(OH)2 by coupling with low-content Pt for boosting the urea oxidation reaction enables significantly promoted energy-saving hydrogen production

“…04-0802). [40][41][42] Although there is no obvious diffraction peak associated with Pt in the XRD pattern of Pt-Ni(OH) 2 @Ni-CNFs-2, the lattice fringe of the surface nanoparticle with a spacing of 0.224 nm in the high-resolution (HRTEM) image ascribes to the (111) plane of metallic Pt (Fig. 2d).…”

Free-standing multi-hierarchical MoC-based catalyst for pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction at ultra-high current density

“…21 The adsorption energy of hydroxyl ions (OH*) plays a crucial role in determining the dissociation rate of water, and subsequently, the production of H* intermediates, which are essential for enhancing alkaline and neutral HER activity. 22,23 To attain the perfect equilibrium between H* adsorption and desorption on MoC, it is common to introduce electron-rich transition metals (such as Fe, Co, Ni), which exhibit suitable binding energies for OH*, making for water dissociation and active intermediate adsorption to enhance electrocatalytic activity. 24 Moreover, non-metallic element doping (such as P, N) can also improve the electronic structure of electrically active molybdenum carbide and reduce the energy barrier in the pH-universal HER process.…”

A bifunctional electrocatalyst based on interfacial engineering of CeO2 and NiSe2 for boosting electrocatalytic water splitting

“…In recent years, transition metal compounds, including carbides, nitrides, sulfides, oxides, phosphides, selenides, etc ., have received much attention for their excellent electrochemical properties. 15–28 In particular, nickel-based selenides available at a low price have shown excellent electrocatalytic performance in alkaline electrolytes due to the production of active species (oxy)hydroxides during the OER. 29–32 Wu et al reported an efficient bimetallic Ni–Fe selenide-derived OER electrocatalyst (Ni–Fe–Se nanocages) and presented a novel concept that the local ligand structure distortion and disorder of the active sites contribute to a significantly improved OER behavior.…”