Enhanced Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction via Electronic Structure Regulation: Activating PtRh with Rare Earth Tm
Qingqing Li1, Botao Zhang2, Chang Sun1
1Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Rare-earth Materials and Applications, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Centre of Rare Earth and Inorganic Functional Materials, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|March 27, 2024
Summary
A new PtRhTm alloy shows enhanced performance for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), crucial for green hydrogen production. This advanced electrocatalyst offers superior efficiency compared to traditional materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Developing efficient electrocatalysts for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is essential for green hydrogen production.
- Sluggish kinetics in alkaline media and the specific roles of Platinum (Pt) and Rhodium (Rh) in HER present significant challenges.
- Lanthanide (Ln) elements can modulate the electronic structure of noble metals, enhancing their catalytic properties in alloys.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and evaluate a novel noble metal-Ln alloy as a high-performance electrocatalyst for alkaline HER.
- To investigate the electronic and structural factors contributing to the enhanced catalytic activity of the developed alloy.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a Platinum-Rhodium-Thulium (Pt1.5Rh1.5Tm) alloy using the sodium vapor reduction method.
- Electrocatalytic activity testing for alkaline HER.
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate reaction mechanisms and electronic properties.
Main Results:
- The Pt1.5Rh1.5Tm alloy exhibited significantly superior catalytic activity for alkaline HER, outperforming commercial Pt/C and Rh/C by 4.4 and 6.6 times, respectively.
- DFT calculations indicated that alloying induces an upshift in the d-band center and facilitates charge transfer.
- These electronic modifications promote the adsorption and dissociation of water (H2O), enhancing both kinetic and thermodynamic favorability for HER.
Conclusions:
- The Pt1.5Rh1.5Tm alloy represents a highly effective electrocatalyst for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.
- The strategic incorporation of Thulium (Tm) into the Pt-Rh alloy optimizes electronic structure for improved water splitting kinetics.
- This study highlights the potential of noble metal-Ln alloys for advancing green hydrogen technologies.
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