The edge effects boosting hydrogen evolution performance of platinum/transition bimetallic phosphide hybrid electrocatalysts

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202209967

Authors: Yeshu Tan (University College London (UCL)) , Jianrui Feng (University College London) , Haobo Dong (University College London) , Longxiang Liu (University College London) , Siyu Zhao (University College London (UCL)) , Feili Lai (KU Leuven) , Tianxi Liu (Jiangnan University) , Ying Bai (Henan University) , Ivan Parkin (University College London) , Guanjie He (University College London (UCL))
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Advanced Functional Materials

State: Published (Approved)
Published: November 2022
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 30614 , 29809 , 32058

Abstract: Platinum (Pt) is regarded as a promising electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, its application in an alkaline medium is limited by the activation energy of water dissociation, diffusion of H+, and desorption of H*. Moreover, the formation of effective structures with a low Pt usage amount is still a challenge. Herein, guided by the simulation discovery that the edge effect can boost local electric field (LEF) of the electrocatalysts for faster proton diffusion, platinum nanocrystals on the edge of transition metal phosphide nanosheets are fabricated. The unique heterostructure with ultralow Pt amount delivered an outstanding HER performance in an alkaline medium with a small overpotential of 44.5 mV and excellent stability for 80 h at the current density of −10 mA cm−2. The mass activity of as-prepared electrocatalyst is 2.77 A mg−1Pt, which is 15 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts (0.18 A mg−1Pt). The density function theory calculation revealed the efficient water dissociation, fast adsorption, and desorption of protons with hybrid structure. The study provides an innovative strategy to design unique nanostructures for boosting HER performances via achieving both synergistic effects from hybrid components and enhanced LEF from the structural edge effect.

Journal Keywords: edge effect; heterostructure; hydrogen evolution reactions; platinum nanocrystals transition metal phosphides

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Materials, Energy

Diamond Offline Facilities: Electron Physical Sciences Imaging Centre (ePSIC)
Instruments: E02-JEM ARM 300CF

Added On: 21/11/2022 15:25

Documents:
Adv Funct Materials - 2022 - Tan - The Edge Effects Boosting Hydrogen Evolution Performance of Platinum Transition.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Earth Sciences & Environment Sustainable Energy Systems Energy Climate Change Physical Chemistry Catalysis Chemistry Materials Science Nanoscience/Nanotechnology

Technical Tags:

Microscopy Electron Microscopy (EM) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)