Alloying at a Subnanoscale Maximizes the Synergistic Effect on the Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. Issue 40 (23rd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zou, Quan; Akada, Yuji; Kuzume, Akiyoshi; Yoshida, Masataka; Imaoka, Takane; Yamamoto, Kimihisa
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 61:Issue 40(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-08-23
• Subjects: Alloys -- Catalysis -- Subnanoparticles -- Synergistic Effect; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202209675
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Bonding dissimilar elements to provide synergistic effects is an effective way to improve the performance of metal catalysts. However, as the properties become more dissimilar, achieving synergistic effects effectively becomes more difficult due to phase separation. Here we describe a comprehensive study on how subnanoscale alloying is always effective for inter‐elemental synergy. Thirty‐six combinations of both bimetallic subnanoparticles (SNPs) and nanoparticles (NPs) were studied systematically using atomic‐resolution imaging and catalyst benchmarking based on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Results revealed that SNPs always produce greater synergistic effects than NPs, the greatest synergistic effect was found for the combination of Pt and Zr. The atomic‐scale miscibility and the associated modulation of electronic states at the subnanoscale were much different from those at the nanoscale, which was observed by annular‐dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF‐STEM) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Abstract : Phase separation in nanoparticles is undesirable from the viewpoint of the synergistic effects between elements in catalytic applications. Here, we propose the general concept that subnanoparticles are not phase‐separated and are an effective means for the expression of elemental synergies.