Enhanced Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction through Lanthanide-Modified Rhodium Intermetallic Catalysts
Qingqing Li1, Chang Sun1, Hao Fu1
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, CTianjin Key Lab Rare Earth Mat & Applicat, Ctr Rare Earth & Inorgan Funct Mat, Nankai University, Smart Sensor I, Tianjin, 300350, P.R. China.
Lanthanide-rhodium intermetallics demonstrate superior performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline water electrolysis. These novel catalysts offer enhanced efficiency for clean hydrogen production.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Efficient electrocatalysts are crucial for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water electrolysis.
- Slow HER kinetics in alkaline media present a significant challenge.
- Alloying is a key strategy to improve electrocatalyst properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and investigate novel lanthanide-based electrocatalysts for enhanced HER.
- To explore the role of lanthanides as electronic and structural regulators in Rh-based intermetallics.
- To evaluate the performance of these new materials in alkaline environments and seawater.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Rh3Ln intermetallics (IMs) via sodium vapor reduction.
- Characterization of electronic structure changes (d-band center shift, electron transfer).
- Electrochemical testing of HER activity, including overpotential and Tafel slope measurements.
Main Results:
- Rh3Ln IMs showed optimized adsorption and dissociation of water molecules.
- Rh3Tb IMs exhibited excellent HER activity in alkaline solutions and seawater.
- Rh3Tb IMs achieved an overpotential of 19 mV at 10 mA cm-2 with a 22.2 mV dec-1 Tafel slope.
- Current density of Rh3Tb IMs was significantly higher than Rh/C and commercial Pt/C.
Conclusions:
- Lanthanide alloying is an effective strategy for designing high-performance HER electrocatalysts.
- Rh3Ln intermetallics represent a promising new class of electrocatalysts for water electrolysis.
- This study highlights the potential of lanthanides in regulating electrocatalyst performance for HER.
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