Boosting alkaline hydrogen evolution: the dominating role of interior modification in surface electrocatalysis

Li, Zhao1,2; Niu, Wenhan2; Yang, Zhenzhong3; Kara, Abdelkader4,5; Wang, Qi6; Wang, Maoyu7; Gu, Meng6; Feng, Zhenxing7; Du, Yingge3; Yang, Yang1,2,5

2020-09

10.1039/d0ee01750g

Energy & Environmental Science   影响因子和分区

1754-5692

1754-5706

The alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (A-HER) holds great promise for clean hydrogen fuel generation but its practical utilization is severely hindered by the sluggish kinetics for water dissociation in alkaline solutions. Traditional ways to improve the electrochemical kinetics for A-HER catalysts have been focusing on surface modification, which still can not meet the demanding requirements for practical water electrolysis because of catalyst surface deactivation. Herein, we report an interior modification strategy to significantly boost the A-HER performance. Specifically, a trace amount of Pt was doped in the interior Co2P (Pt-Co2P) to introduce a stronger dopant-host interaction than that of the surface-modified catalyst. Consequently, the local chemical state and electronic structure of the catalysts were adjusted to improve the electron mobility and reduce the energy barriers for hydrogen adsorption and H-H bond formation. As a proof-of-concept, the interior-modified Pt-Co2P shows a reduced onset potential at near-zero volts for the A-HER, low overpotentials of 2 mV and 58 mV to achieve 10 and 100 mA cm(-2), and excellent durability for long-term utilization. The interior-modified Pt-Co2P delivers superior A-HER performance to Pt/C and other state-of-the-art electrocatalysts. This work will open a new avenue for A-HER catalyst design.

SCI ; EI

英语

通讯

National Science Foundation[CMMI-1851674] ; NSF MRI XPS[ECCS: 1726636] ; U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Early Career Research Program[68278] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[21802065] ; U.S. Department of Energy Basic Energy Science[DE-FG02-11ER16243] ; DOE Office of Science[DE-AC02-06CH11357]

Chemistry ; Energy & Fuels ; Engineering ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Chemistry, Multidisciplinary ; Energy & Fuels ; Engineering, Chemical ; Environmental Sciences

WOS:000570224500030

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

20204509461653

Doping (additives) ; Chemical bonds ; Alkalinity ; Electrocatalysis ; Electrocatalysts ; Surface treatment ; Electronic structure ; Gas adsorption

Chemistry, General:801.1 ; Physical Chemistry:801.4 ; Electrochemistry:801.4.1 ; Chemical Reactions:802.2 ; Chemical Operations:802.3 ; Chemical Agents and Basic Industrial Chemicals:803

Web of Science

1.Univ Cent Florida, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, Orlando, FL 32826 USA
2.Univ Cent Florida, NanoSci Technol Ctr, Orlando, FL 32826 USA
3.Pacific Northwest Natl Lab, Phys & Computat Sci Directorate, Richland, WA 99352 USA
4.Univ Cent Florida, Dept Phys, Orlando, FL 32826 USA
5.Univ Cent Florida, Energy Convers & Prop Cluster, Orlando, FL 32826 USA
6.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
7.Oregon State Univ, Sch Chem Biol & Environm Engn, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA

Li, Zhao,Niu, Wenhan,Yang, Zhenzhong,et al. Boosting alkaline hydrogen evolution: the dominating role of interior modification in surface electrocatalysis[J]. Energy & Environmental Science,2020,13(9):3110-3118.

Li, Zhao.,Niu, Wenhan.,Yang, Zhenzhong.,Kara, Abdelkader.,Wang, Qi.,...&Yang, Yang.(2020).Boosting alkaline hydrogen evolution: the dominating role of interior modification in surface electrocatalysis.Energy & Environmental Science,13(9),3110-3118.

Li, Zhao,et al."Boosting alkaline hydrogen evolution: the dominating role of interior modification in surface electrocatalysis".Energy & Environmental Science 13.9(2020):3110-3118.