Confining Zero‐Valent Platinum Single Atoms in α‐MoC1−x for pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. (1st December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Wen; Wu, Yuxuan; Lin, Yunxiang; Yao, Jixin; Wu, Xingshun; Wu, Chuanqiang; Zuo, Xueqin; Yang, Qun; Ge, Binghui; Yang, Li; Li, Guang; Chou, Shulei; Li, Weijie; Jiang, Yong
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 32:Number 12(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-12-01
• Subjects: catalytic mechanism -- hydrogen evolution reaction -- X‐ray absorption spectroscopy -- zero‐valent single atoms; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202108464
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract: Single‐atom electrocatalysts (SACs) toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have been extensively studied owing to their high mass activity and atom utilization. Although platinum (Pt) based SACs have been reported frequently, optimizing the metal–support interaction to achieve low valence state Pt species is still a challenge. Here, the carbon supported α‐MoC1− x nanoparticles are used to anchor zero‐valent Pt single atoms (PtSA /α‐MoC1− x @C) as electrocatalyst for pH‐universal HER. The PtSA /α‐MoC1− x @C with optimized Pt loading of 0.75 wt% shows a low overpotential (21, 12, and 36 mV at 10 mA cm –2 ) and high turnover frequencies (27.00, 31.98, and 21.39 H2 s –1 at 100 mV) for HER under alkaline, acidic, and neutral electrolyte conditions. Experimental evidence combing density functional theory calculations confirm that the charge polarization leads to a zero‐valence state of Pt single atom and further optimized the adsorption/desorption energy of intermediates, further accelerating the reaction dynamics for HER. Abstract : Zero‐valent Pt single atoms incorporated into the carbon supported α‐MoC1− x nanoparticles act as a pH‐universal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst. Theoretical calculations combined with X‐ray absorption spectroscopy reveal that the Pt atom achieves the zero‐valent state due to the atomic charge polarization, which further optimizes the adsorption/desorption energy of intermediates, accelerating reaction dynamics of the HER.