Atomic‐Level Platinum Filling into Ni‐Vacancies of Dual‐Deficient NiO for Boosting Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. Issue 24 (22nd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yan, Yaotian; Lin, Jinghuang; Xu, Tianxiong; Liu, Baishen; Huang, Keke; Qiao, Liang; Liu, Shude; Cao, Jian; Jun, Seong Chan; Yamauchi, Yusuke; Qi, Junlei
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 12:Issue 24(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-04-22
• Subjects: electrocatalysts -- hydrogen evolution reaction -- plasma -- vacancy filling -- Volmer–Tafel step; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202200434
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: Developing low‐cost and high‐efficiency catalysts for sustainable hydrogen production through electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial yet remains challenging. Here, a strategy is proposed to fill Ni‐vacancy (Niv ) sites of dual‐deficient NiO (D‐NiO‐Pt) deliberately created by Ar plasma with homogeneously distributed Pt atoms driven by oxygen vacancies (Ov ). The incorporated Pt atoms filling the Niv reduce the formation energy to increase crystal stability, and subsequently combine with additional Ov to tune the electronic structure of the surrounding Ni sites. Thus, a more ideal hydrogen adsorption free energy (Δ G H* ) closer to 0 of Ni sites and Pt sites can be achieved. As a result, the D‐NiO‐Pt electrode achieves superior mass activity of ≈1600 mA mg −1 (normalized by platinum) and nearly negligible loss of activity during long‐term operation, which is much better than as‐prepared Pt‐containing NiO catalysts without plasma treatment. A low overpotential of 20 mV is required for the D‐NiO‐Pt at 10 mA cm −2 in alkaline HER, outperforming that of the commercial Pt/C. In addition, the universal access to the other Ni‐based compounds including nickel phosphide (Ni2 P), nickel sulfide (Ni0.96 S), and nickel selenide (NiSe2 ) is also demonstrated by employing a vacancy‐driven Pt filling mechanism. Abstract : A vacancy‐driven strategy for filling Pt into Ni‐vacancies to boost hydrogen evolution reaction activity is proposed. The Pt atoms filling into the Niv subsequently combine with additional Ov to tune the electronic structure of surrounding Ni sites, leading to a superior mass activity compared to the commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst.