Pt-C Interfaces Based on Electronegativity-Functionalized Hollow Carbon Spheres for Highly Efficient Hydrogen Evolution
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Experimental Methods for Efficient Solar Hydrogen Production in Microgravity Environment
Published on: December 3, 2019
Xiao Shang1, Zi-Zhang Liu1, Shan-Shan Lu1
1State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Institute of New Energy , China University of Petroleum (East China) , Qingdao 266580 , P. R. China.
Abstract:
The hydrogen evolution reaction activity of carbon-supported Pt catalyst is highly dependent on Pt-C interfaces. Herein, we focus on the relationships between Pt activity and N/O-functionalized hollow carbon sphere (HCS) substrate in acidic media. The electrochemical dissolution of Pt counter electrode is performed to prepare Pt nanoparticles in low loading. The N groups are beneficial for homogeneously sized Pt nanoparticles, whereas the O groups lead to aggregated nanoparticles. Moreover, the proper electronegativity of the N groups may enable capturing of protons to create proton-rich Pt-C interfaces and transfer them onto the Pt sites. The O groups may also capture protons by hydrogen bonding, but the subsequent release of protons is more difficult due to a stronger electronegativity and result in an inferior Pt activity. Consequently, the N-doped HCS with a low Pt loading (1.7 μg cm-2 and 0.05 wt %) possesses a higher intrinsic activity compared with Pt on O-doped HCS. Moreover, it outperforms the commercial 20% Pt/C with a stable operation for 12 h. This work may provide suggestions for constructing the advantageous Pt-C interfaces by proper functional groups for high catalytic efficiencies.
Related Concept Videos
Electronegativity
Hydrogen Bonds
Hydrogen Bonds Control the World!
Because hydrogen has very weak electronegativity when it binds with a strongly electronegative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen, electrons in the bond are unequally shared....
Convergent Evolution
The Evidence for Evolution
The Carbon Cycle
Protein-protein Interfaces

