Self-assembled PtNi layered metallene nanobowls for pH-universal electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Compared with layered materials such as graphite and transition metal disulfide compounds with highly anisotropic in-plane covalent bonds, it is inherently more challenging to obtain independent metallic two-dimensional films with atomic thickness. In this study, PtNi layered metallene nanobowls (LMBs) with multilayer atomic-scale nanosheets and bowl-like structures have been synthesized in one step using structural and electronic effects. The material has the advantage of catalyzing pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Compared with Pt/C, PtNi LMBs exhibited excellent HER activity and stability under all pH conditions. The overpotentials of 10 mA cm^-2 at 0.5 M H₂SO₄, 1.0 M phosphate buffer and 1.0 M KOH were 14.8, 20.3, and 34.0 mV, respectively. Under acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions, the HER Faraday efficiencies reach 98.97%, 98.85%, and 99.04%, respectively. This study provides an example for the preparation of unique multilayer nanobowls, and also provides a basic research platform for the development of special HER materials.