Significantly Stabilizing Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Induced by Nb-Doping Pt/Co(OH)2 Nanosheets.
Yakun Tian1, Ming Wen1, Aijian Huang2,3
1School of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, The State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|February 24, 2023
Summary
Novel platinum-nanoparticle-decorated niobium-doped cobalt hydroxide nanosheets demonstrate exceptional stability and efficiency for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline solutions. This advancement offers a promising pathway for efficient water splitting catalysis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- High stability and efficiency of electrocatalysts are critical for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media for water splitting.
- Developing advanced electrocatalysts is essential for efficient and sustainable energy conversion technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a novel nano-platinum/niobium-doped cobalt hydroxide (Pt/Nb-Co(OH)2) nanosheet electrocatalyst.
- To evaluate the electrocatalytic performance of the synthesized material for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media.
Main Methods:
- Water-bath treatment and solvothermal reduction were employed for material synthesis.
- Electrochemical characterization techniques were used to assess HER performance.
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to understand the catalytic mechanism.
Main Results:
- The Pt/Nb-Co(OH)2 nanosheet exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance for alkaline HER.
- Achieved high stability (>33 h), mass activity (0.65 mA µg-1 Pt), and low overpotential (112 mV at 10 mA cm-2).
- Nb-doping was shown to optimize hydrogen adsorption and water activation, enhancing the Heyrovsky step.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized Pt/Nb-Co(OH)2 nanosheet is a highly stable and efficient electrocatalyst for alkaline HER.
- Nb-doping plays a crucial role in enhancing catalytic activity by optimizing reaction kinetics and water activation.
- This study presents a facile and green design strategy for Nb-doped electrocatalysts for alkaline HER applications.
