Premium
Rational Design of Atomic Layers of Pt Anchored on Mo 2 C Nanorods for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution over a Wide pH Range
Author(s) -
Qiu Yu,
Wen Zhilin,
Jiang Chaoran,
Wu Xiaojun,
Si Rui,
Bao Jun,
Zhang Qinghua,
Gu Lin,
Tang Junwang,
Guo Xiaohui
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201900014
Subject(s) - catalysis , nanorod , overpotential , materials science , noble metal , carbide , platinum , hydrogen , metal , transition metal , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrochemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , electrode , engineering
Transition metal carbide compound has been extensively investigated as a catalyst for hydrogenation, for example, due to its noble metal‐like properties. Herein a facile synthetic strategy is applied to control the thickness of atomic‐layer Pt clusters strongly anchored on N‐doped Mo 2 C nanorods (Pt/N‐Mo 2 C) and it is found that the Pt atomic layers modify Mo 2 C function as a high‐performance and robust catalyst for hydrogen evolution. The optimized 1.08 wt% Pt/N‐Mo 2 C exhibits 25‐fold, 10‐fold, and 15‐fold better mass activity than the benchmark 20 wt% Pt/C in neutral, acidic, and alkaline media, respectively. This catalyst also represents an extremely low overpotential of −8.3 mV at current density of 10 mA cm −2 , much better than the majority of reported electrocatalysts and even the commercial reference catalyst (20 wt%) Pt/C. Furthermore, it exhibits an outstanding long‐term operational durability of 120 h. Theoretical calculation predicts that the ultrathin layer of Pt clusters on Mo‐Mo 2 C yields the lowest absolute value of Δ G H* . Experimental results demonstrate that the atomic layer of Pt clusters anchored on Mo 2 C substrate greatly enhances electron and mass transportation efficiency and structural stability. These findings could provide the foundation for developing highly effective and scalable hydrogen evolution catalysts.