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Weakening Intermediate Bindings on CuPd/Pd Core/shell Nanoparticles to Achieve Pt‐Like Bifunctional Activity for Hydrogen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction Reactions
Author(s) -
Xie Huan,
Chen Shaoqing,
Liang Jiashun,
Wang Tanyuan,
Hou Zhufeng,
Wang HsingLin,
Chai Guoliang,
Li Qing
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202100883
Subject(s) - overpotential , bifunctional , materials science , catalysis , reversible hydrogen electrode , nanoparticle , hydrogen , bifunctional catalyst , electrolyte , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrode , working electrode , organic chemistry , engineering
Although Pd is a potential substitution of Pt‐based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), the binding of *H and oxygenated (*O, *OOH, *OH) intermediates on Pd are stronger than on Pt, leading to its inferior activity for HER and ORR. In this work, CuPd/Pd core/shell nanoparticles with an ultrathin Pd shell (0.5 nm) are developed, which demonstrate the Pt‐like bifunctional activity for HER and ORR in acid electrolytes. The overpotential at 350 mA cm −2 for HER and the half‐wave potential for ORR on the optimal CuPd/Pd core/shell NPs are 76 mV and 0.854 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), respectively, which are comparable to that of Pt and among the best of the reported Pd‐based catalysts. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the significantly enhanced HER/ORR activity on CuPd/Pd core/shell NPs with 0.5 nm Pd shell stem from the compressive strain induced downshift of d‐band center for Pd (by 2.0%), which weakens the binding strength of *H and oxygenated intermediates and promotes the reaction kinetics.