Potential‐Cycling Synthesis of Single Platinum Atoms for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution in Neutral Media. Issue 44 (23rd August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Lihan; Han, Lili; Liu, Haoxuan; Liu, Xijun; Luo, Jun
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 56:Issue 44(2017)
• Page Start: 13694
• Page End: 13698
• Publication Date: 2017-08-23
• Subjects: electrode materials -- hydrogen evolution reaction -- platinum -- potential cycling -- single-atom catalysis; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201706921
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have exhibited high activities for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysis in acidic or alkaline media, when they are used with binders on cathodes. However, to date, no SACs have been reported for the HER electrocatalysis in neutral media. We demonstrate a potential‐cycling method to synthesize a catalyst comprising single Pt atoms on CoP‐based nanotube arrays supported by a Ni foam, termed PtSA‐NT‐NF. This binder‐free catalyst is centimeter‐scale and scalable. It is directly used as HER cathodes, whose performances at low and high current densities in phosphate buffer solutions (pH 7.2) are comparable to and better than, respectively, those of commercial Pt/C. The Pt mass activity of PtSA‐NT‐NF is 4 times of that of Pt/C, and its electrocatalytic stability is also better than that of Pt/C. This work provides a large‐scale production strategy for binder‐free Pt SAC electrodes for efficient HER in neutral media. Abstract : Singles suitable for HER : Large‐area single Pt atoms on CoP‐based nanotube arrays supported by Ni foams were synthesized by potential cycling. These binder‐free electrocatalysts are centimeter‐scale and can be scaled up further. They exhibit unparalleled performance when catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction in neutral media.