Highly mass activity electrocatalysts with ultralow Pt loading on carbon black for hydrogen evolution reaction

Pt-based nanocatalysts offer excellent prospects for various industries.However,the low loading of Pt with excellent performance for efficient and stable nanocatalysts still presents a considerable challenge.In this study,nanocatalysts with ultralow Pt content,excellent performance,and carbon black as support were prepared through in-situ synthesis.These~2-nm particles uniformly and stably dispersed on carbon black because of the strong s-p-d orbital hybridizations between carbon black and Pt,which suppressed the agglomeration of Pt ions.This unique structure is beneficial for the hydrogen evolution reaction.The catalysts exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction,exhibiting a potential of 100 mV at 100 mA·cm^(-2),which is comparable to those of commercial Pt/C catalysts.Mass activity(1.61 A/mg)was four times that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst(0.37 A/mg).The ultralow Pt loading(6.84wt%)paves the way for the development of next-generation electrocatalysts.

Deformable Catalytic Material Derived from Mechanical Flexibility for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Deformable catalytic material with excellent flexible structure is a new type of catalyst that has been applied in various chemical reactions,especially electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).In recent years,deformable catalysts for HER have made great progress and would become a research hotspot.The catalytic activities of deformable catalysts could be adjustable by the strain engineering and surface reconfiguration.The surface curvature of flexible catalytic materials is closely related to the electrocatalytic HER properties.Here,firstly,we systematically summarized self-adaptive catalytic performance of deformable catalysts and various micro–nanostructures evolution in catalytic HER process.Secondly,a series of strategies to design highly active catalysts based on the mechanical flexibility of lowdimensional nanomaterials were summarized.Last but not least,we presented the challenges and prospects of the study of flexible and deformable micro–nanostructures of electrocatalysts,which would further deepen the understanding of catalytic mechanisms of deformable HER catalyst.

Precisely Control Relationship between Sulfur Vacancy and H Absorption for Boosting Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Ef fective and robust catalyst is the core of water splitting to produce hydrogen.Here, we report an anionic etching method to tailor the sulfur vacancy(VS) of NiS_(2) to further enhance the electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER). With the VS concentration change from 2.4% to 8.5%, the H* adsorption strength on S sites changed and NiS_(2)-VS 5.9% shows the most optimized H* adsorption for HER with an ultralow onset potential(68 m V) and has long-term stability for 100 h in 1 M KOH media. In situ attenuated-total-reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR-FTIRS) measurements are usually used to monitor the adsorption of intermediates. The S-H* peak of the Ni S_(2)-VS 5.9% appears at a very low voltage, which is favorable for the HER in alkaline media. Density functional theory calculations also demonstrate the Ni S_(2)-VS 5.9% has the optimal |ΔG^(H*)| of 0.17 e V. This work offers a simple and promising pathway to enhance catalytic activity via precise vacancies strategy.

Screening A-site ordered quadruple perovskites for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction via unifying electronic configuration descriptor

Dynamic adsorption processes of reaction intermediates for alkaline hydrogen evolution(HER)catalysts are still confusing to understand.Here,we report a series of A-site ordered quadruple perovskite ruthenium-based electrocatalysts ACu_(3)Ru_(4)O_(12)(A=Na,Ca,Nd,and La),with the target sample SrCu_(3)Ru_(4)O_(12)exhibiting a very low overpotential(46 mV@10 mA·cm^(-2))and excellent catalytic stability with little decays after 48-h durability test.Precise tuning A-site cations can change the average valence state of Cu and Ru,thus the plot of HER activity versus the average Ru valence number shows a volcano-type relationship.Density functional theory indicates that the Ru 4d orbitals of SrCu3Ru4O12possesses the most suitable d-band center position among the five samples,which might be the key parameter to determine the catalytic performance.Our work provides further insight into the discovering advanced,efficient hydrogen evolution catalysts through designing precise descriptor.

Fundamental Understanding of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Zinc Anode Surface:A First‑Principles Study

Hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)has become a key factor affecting the cycling stability of aqueous Zn-ion batteries,while the corresponding fundamental issues involving HER are still unclear.Herein,the reaction mechanisms of HER on various crystalline surfaces have been investigated by first-principle calculations based on density functional theory.It is found that the Volmer step is the ratelimiting step of HER on the Zn(002)and(100)surfaces,while,the reaction rates of HER on the Zn(101),(102)and(103)surfaces are determined by the Tafel step.Moreover,the correlation between HER activity and the generalized coordination number(CN)of Zn at the surfaces has been revealed.The relatively weaker HER activity on Zn(002)surface can be attributed to the higher CN of surface Zn atom.The atomically uneven Zn(002)surface shows significantly higher HER activity than the flat Zn(002)surface as the CN of the surface Zn atom is lowered.The CN of surface Zn atom is proposed as a key descriptor of HER activity.Tuning the CN of surface Zn atom would be a vital strategy to inhibit HER on the Zn anode surface based on the presented theoretical studies.Furthermore,this work provides a theoretical basis for the in-depth understanding of HER on the Zn surface.

Unveiling spin magnetic effect of TM doped SnS_(2) nanosheet with enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction

Photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is taken into account as an alternative to effective hydrogen production,emphasizing the importance of catalysts.The magnetism of catalysts could modulate the adsorption of the H atom and further enhance the HER activity.Herein,doping the double transition metal atoms on SnS_(2) nanosheet(TM_(2)@SnS_(2))to form the efficient magnetic catalyst is proposed to explore the spin magnetic effect on the HER performance.By performing first-principles calculations,nonmagnetic V_(2)@SnS_(2) is proved to be the candidate of the HER catalyst;nevertheless,the HER activities of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic V_(2)@SnS_(2) are relatively inferior due to the spin-induced charge redistribution.Meanwhile,machine learning analysis shows the absolute importance of the electronic structure of TM dopants and surrounding S ligands,and the HER activity could be predicted by the modified band centers of S-3p_(z) and TM-d.Furthermore,the proof-of-concept experiment has substantiated the above theoretical predictions by significantly increasing liner sweep voltammetry and photocurrent with applied magnetic field.This work provides a new avenue for uncovering the spin catalytic mechanism and the exploration and design of efficient HER catalysts.

In situ infrared, Raman and X-ray spectroscopy for the mechanistic understanding of hydrogen evolution reaction

Hydrogen production by water reduction reactions has received considerable attention because hydrogen is considered a clean-energy carrier,key for a sustainable energy future.Computational methods have been widely used to study the reaction mechanism of the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER),but the calculation results need to be supported by experimental results and direct evidence to confirm the mechanistic insights.In this review,we discuss the fundamental principles of the in situ spectroscopic strategy and a theoretical model for a mechanistic understanding of the HER.In addition,we investigate recent studies by in situ Fourier transform infrared(FTIR),Raman spectroscopy,and X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS) and cover new findings that occur at the catalyst-electrolyte interface during HER.These spectroscopic strategies provide practical ways to elucidate catalyst phase,reaction intermediate,catalyst-electrolyte interface,intermediate binding energy,metal valency state,and coordination environment during HER.

The effect of the carbon components on the performance of carbonbased transition metal electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

The hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is a promising way to produce hydrogen,and the use of non-precious metals with an excellent electrochemical performance is vital for this.Carbon-based transition metal catalysts have high activity and stability,which are important in reducing the cost of hydrogen production and promoting the development of the hydrogen production industry.However,there is a lack of discussion regarding the effect of carbon components on the performance of these electrocatalysts.This review of the literature discusses the choice of the carbon components in these catalysts and their impact on catalytic performance,including electronic structure control by heteroatom doping,morphology adjustment,and the influence of self-supporting materials.It not only analyzes the progress in HER,but also provides guidance for synthesizing high-performance carbon-based transition metal catalysts.

Exploring the Cation Regulation Mechanism for Interfacial Water Involved in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by In Situ Raman Spectroscopy

Interfacial water molecules are the most important participants in the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Hence,understanding the behavior and role that interfacial water plays will ultimately reveal the HER mechanism.Unfortunately,investigating interfacial water is extremely challenging owing to the interference caused by bulk water molecules and complexity of the interfacial environment.Here,the behaviors of interfacial water in different cationic electrolytes on Pd surfaces were investigated by the electrochemistry,in situ core-shell nanostructure enhanced Raman spectroscopy and theoretical simulation techniques.Direct spectral evidence reveals a red shift in the frequency and a decrease in the intensity of interfacial water as the potential is shifted in the positively direction.When comparing the different cation electrolyte systems at a given potential,the frequency of the interfacial water peak increases in the specified order:Li+<Na^(+)<K^(+)<Ca^(2+)<Sr^(2+).The structure of interfacial water was optimized by adjusting the radius,valence,and concentration of cation to form the two-H down structure.This unique interfacial water structure will improve the charge transfer efficiency between the water and electrode further enhancing the HER performance.Therefore,local cation tuning strategies can be used to improve the HER performance by optimizing the interfacial water structure.

Atomic-level coupled RuO_(2)/BaRuO_(3) heterostructure for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

The slow water dissociation is the rate-determining step that slows down the reaction rate in alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Optimizing the surface electronic structure of the catalyst to lower the energy barrier of water dissociation and regulating the binding strength of adsorption intermediates are crucial strategy for boosting the catalytic performance of HER.In this study,RuO_(2)/BaRuO_(3)(RBRO)heterostructures with abundant oxygen vacancies and lattice distortion were in-situ constructed under a low temperature via the thermal decomposition of gel-precursor.The RBRO heterostructures obtained at 550℃ exhibited the highest HER activity in 1 M KOH,showing an ultra-low overpotential of 16 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2)and a Tafel slope of 33.37 m V dec^(-1).Additionally,the material demonstrated remarkable durability,with only 25 mV of degradation in overpotential after 200 h of stability testing at 10 mA cm^(-2).Density functional theory calculations revealed that the redistribution of charges at the heterojunction interface can optimize the binding energies of H*and OH*and effectively lower the energy barrier of water dissociation.This research offers novel perspectives on surpassing the water dissociation threshold of alkaline HER catalysts by means of a systematic design of heterogeneous interfaces.

Efficient Solvothermal Synthesis of Defect-Rich Cu-BTC•MOF with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity in Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Porous metal–organic frameworks(MOFs) have been recently discovered to be efficient catalysts for energy applications and green technologies. Here, we report on a scalable catalytic platform using Cu–based MOFs for electrocatalytic alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. First, the solvothermal synthesis of Cu–BTC MOFs(BTC = 1,3,5–benzenetricarboxylate) at 85 ℃ and a 1:60 ligand–to–solvent ratio allowed for minimizing the chemical consumption. Second, the obtained platform demonstrated enhanced electrochemical performance compared with commercially available Cu–based MOFs, with a potential of –230 versus –232 eV, logarithm of the current density of –3.6 versus –4.2 cm2, and electrochemical surface area of 75 versus 25 cm2per cm2of geometric area, respectively. Morphological and Raman analyses also revealed that the high concentration of defects in the obtained submicron Cu–BTC MOFs can contribute to their improved catalytic performance. Thus, our findings pave the way to the low–cost synthesis of energy–efficient MOF–based catalysts for hydrogen production.

Insights into the hydrogen evolution reaction in vanadium redox flow batteries:A synchrotron radiation based X-ray imaging study

The parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)in the negative half-cell of vanadium redox flow batteries(VRFBs)causes severe efficiency losses.Thus,a deeper understanding of this process and the accompanying bubble formation is crucial.This benchmarking study locally analyzes the bubble distribution in thick,porous electrodes for the first time using deep learning-based image segmentation of synchrotron X-ray micro-tomograms.Each large three-dimensional data set was processed precisely in less than one minute while minimizing human errors and pointing out areas of increased HER activity in VRFBs.The study systematically varies the electrode potential and material,concluding that more negative electrode potentials of-200 m V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)and lower cause more substantial bubble formation,resulting in bubble fractions of around 15%–20%in carbon felt electrodes.Contrarily,the bubble fractions stay only around 2%in an electrode combining carbon felt and carbon paper.The detected areas with high HER activity,such as the border subregion with more than 30%bubble fraction in carbon felt electrodes,the cutting edges,and preferential spots in the electrode bulk,are potential-independent and suggest that larger electrodes with a higher bulk-to-border ratio might reduce HER-related performance losses.The described combination of electrochemical measurements,local X-ray microtomography,AI-based segmentation,and 3D morphometric analysis is a powerful and novel approach for local bubble analysis in three-dimensional porous electrodes,providing an essential toolkit for a broad community working on bubble-generating electrochemical systems.

Recent advances in design of hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts at high current density:A review

The electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy sources offers a promising method of"green hydrogen"production,which is considered to be at the heart of future carbon-neutral energy systems.In the past decades,researchers have reported a number of hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)electrocatalysts with activity comparable to that of commercial Pt/C,but most of them are tested within a small current density range,typically no more than 500 mA cm^(-2).To realize the industrial application of hydrogen production from water electrolysis,it is essential to develop high-efficiency HER electrocatalysts at high current density(HCD≥500 mA cm^(-2)).Nevertheless,it remains challenging and significant to rational design HCD electrocatalysts for HER.In this paper,the design strategy of HCD electrocatalysts is discussed,and some HCD electrocatalysts for HER are reviewed in seven categories(alloy,metal oxide,metal hydroxide,metal sulfide/selenide,metal nitride,metal phosphide and other derived electrocatalysts).At the end of this article,we also pro-pose some viewpoints and prospects for the future development and research directions of HCD electrocatalysts for HER.

Unraveling the Harmonious Coexistence of Ruthenium States on a Self-Standing Electrode for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The development of cost-effective,highly efficient,and durable electrocatalysts has been a paramount pursuit for advancing the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Herein,a simplified synthesis protocol was designed to achieve a self-standing electrode,composed of activated carbon paper embedded with Ru single-atom catalysts and Ru nanoclusters(ACP/Ru_(SAC+C))via acid activation,immersion,and high-temperature pyrolysis.Ab initio molecular dynamics(AIMD)calculations are employed to gain a more profound understanding of the impact of acid activation on carbon paper.Furthermore,the coexistence states of the Ru atoms are confirmed via aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(AC-STEM),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS).Experimental measurements and theoretical calculations reveal that introducing a Ru single-atom site adjacent to the Ru nanoclusters induces a synergistic effect,tuning the electronic structure and thereby significantly enhancing their catalytic performance.Notably,the ACP/Ru_(SAC+C)exhibits a remarkable turnover frequency(TOF)of 18 s^(−1)and an exceptional mass activity(MA)of 2.2 A mg^(−1),surpassing the performance of conventional Pt electrodes.The self-standing electrode,featuring harmoniously coexisting Ru states,stands out as a prospective choice for advancing HER catalysts,enhancing energy efficiency,productivity,and selectivity.

Electronic Communication Between Co and Ru Sites Decorated on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes Boosting the Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Designing highly efficient Pt-free electrocatalysts with low overpotential for an alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)remains a significant challenge.Here,a novel and efficient cobalt(Co),ruthenium(Ru)bimetallic electrocatalyst composed of CoRu nanoalloy decorated on the N-doped carbon nanotubes(CoRu@N-CNTs),was prepared by reacting fullerenol with melamine via hydrothermal treatment and followed by pyrolysis.Benefiting from the electronic communication between Co and Ru sites,the as-obtained CoRu@N-CNTs catalyst exhibited superior electrocatalytic HER activity.To deliver a current density of 10 mA·cm^(-2),it required an overpotential of merely 19 mV along with a Tafel slope of 26.19 mV·dec^(-1)in 1 mol·L^(-1)potassium hydroxide(KOH)solution,outperforming the benchmark Pt/C catalyst.The present work would pave a new way towards the design and construction of an efficient electrocatalyst for energy storage and conversion.

Accelerating the Screening of Modified MA_(2)Z_(4) Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by Deep Learning-Based Local Geometric Analysis

Machine learning(ML)integrated with density functional theory(DFT)calculations have recently been used to accelerate the design and discovery of single-atom catalysts(SACs)by establishing deep structure–activity relationships.The traditional ML models are always difficult to identify the structural differences among the single-atom systems with different modification methods,leading to the limitation of the potential application range.Aiming to the structural properties of several typical two-dimensional MA_(2)Z_(4)-based single-atom systems(bare MA_(2)Z_(4) and metal single-atom doped/supported MA_(2)Z_(4)),an improved crystal graph convolutional neural network(CGCNN)classification model was employed,instead of the traditional machine learning regression model,to address the challenge of incompatibility in the studied systems.The CGCNN model was optimized using crystal graph representation in which the geometric configuration was divided into active layer,surface layer,and bulk layer(ASB-GCNN).Through ML and DFT calculations,five potential single-atom hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)catalysts were screened from chemical space of 600 MA_(2)Z_(4)-based materials,especially V_(1)/HfSn_(2)N_(4)(S)with high stability and activity(Δ_(GH*)is 0.06 eV).Further projected density of states(pDOS)analysis in combination with the wave function analysis of the SAC-H bond revealed that the SAC-dz^(2)orbital coincided with the H-s orbital around the energy level of−2.50 eV,and orbital analysis confirmed the formation ofσbonds.This study provides an efficient multistep screening design framework of metal single-atom catalyst for HER systems with similar two-dimensional supports but different geometric configurations.

Interface engineering of advanced electrocatalysts toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reactions Author links open overlay panel

Developing efficient,stable,and low-cost electrocatalysts toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reactions(HER)in water electrolysis driven by renewable energy sources has always been discussed over the past decade.To reduce energy consumption and improve energy utilization efficiency,highly active electrocatalytic electrodes are essential for lowering the energy barrier of the HER.Catalysts featuring multiple interfaces have attracted significant research interest recently due to their enhanced physicochemical properties.Reasonable interface modulation can optimize intermediate active species’adsorption energy,improve catalytic active sites’selectivity,and enhance intrinsic catalytic activity.Here,we provided an overview of the latest advancement in interface engineering for efficient HER catalysts.We begin with a brief introduction to the fundamental concepts and mechanisms of alkaline HER.Then,we analyze and discuss current regulating principles in interface engineering for HER catalysts,focusing particularly on optimizing electron structures and modulating microenvironment reactions.Finally,the challenges and further prospects of interface catalysts for future applications are discussed.

The hybrid Pt nanoclusters/Ru nanowires catalysts accelerating alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

Water electrolysis via alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is a promising approach for large-scale production of high-purity hydrogen at a low cost,utilizing renewable and clean energy.However,the sluggish kinetics derived from the high energy barrier of water dissociation impedes seriously its practical application.Herein,a series of hybrid Pt nanoclusters/Ru nanowires(Pt/Ru NWs)catalysts are demonstrated to accelerate alkaline HER.And the optimized Pt/Ru NWs(10%wt Pt)exhibits exceptional performance with an ultralow overpotential(24 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2)),a small Tafel slope(26.3 mV dec^(-1)),and long-term stability,outperforming the benchmark commercial Pt/C-JM-20%wt catalyst.This amazing performance also occurred in the alkaline anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis devices,where it delivered a cell voltage of about 1.9 V at 1 A cm^(-2)and an outstanding stability(more than 100 h).The calculations have revealed such a superior performance exhibited by Pt/Ru NWs stems from the formed heterointerfaces,which significantly reduce the energy barrier of the decisive rate step of water dissociation via cooperative-action between Pt cluster and Ru substance.This work provides valuable perspectives for designing advanced materials toward alkaline HER and beyond.

In situ hydrothermal growth of Ni-based hydrogen phosphate polyhedrons on Ni foam for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Developing a cost-effective and stable electrocatalyst is the key to achieve the large-scale applications of water electrolysis to produce green hydrogen.Herein;an in situ hydrothermal growth strategy was put forward to prepare a novel self-supporting electrode;that is;Ni-based hydrogen phosphate polyhedrons supported on 3D Ni foam.This electrode was composed of crystalline(Ni(H2PO4)2⋅2H2O;Ni(H3P2O7)2⋅2H2O);and amorphous phase in which NiO nanoparticles formed.The amorphous phase connected polyhedrons to the Ni foam substrate;forming multifarious heterogeneous interfaces.Such a structure possessed large number of active sites;favored the fast reaction kinetics and electron transport rate;synergistically resulting in a superior alkaline HER per-formance.In alkaline electrolyte;the electrode only needed a small overpotential of 69 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm-2 with a small Tafel slope of 56 mV dec-1;and exhibited a good stability at the current density of 100 mA cm-2 for 50 h.This in situ hydrothermal growth strategy opened up a new route to green synthesis of cost-effective and stable 3D heterostructured self-supporting electrode for water-splitting.

Kinetic Implication from Temperature Effect on Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at Ag Electrode

Hydrogen evolution reaction （HER） at polycrystalline silver electrode in 0.1 mol/L HClO4 solution is investigated by cyclic voltammetry in the temperature range of 278-333 K. We found that at electrode potential φa,app decreases with φ, while pre-exponential factor A remains nearly unchanged,which conforms well the prediction from Butler-Volmer equation. In contrast, with φ nega-tive shifts from the onset potential for HER to the potential of zero charge （PZC≈-0.4 V）, both Ea,app and A for HER increase （e.g., Ea,app increases from 24 kJ/mol to 32 kJ/mol）. The increase in Ea,app and A with negative shift in φ from -0.25 V to PZC is explained by the increases of both internal energy change and entropy change from reactants to the transition states, which is correlated with the change in the hydrogen bond network during HER. The positive entropy effects overcompensate the adverse effect from the increase in the activation energy, which leads to a net increase in HER current with the activation energy negative shift from the onset potential of HER to PZC. It is pointed out that entropy change may contribute greatly to the kinetics for electrode reaction which involves the transfer of electron and proton, such as HER.