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Palladium Nanocubes with {100} Facets for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: Synthesis, Experiment and Theory
Ivan Saldan1, Lilian Moumaneix2, Muhammad Umer3
1Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, Brno, 61200, Czech Republic.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|February 6, 2025
Summary
This study synthesizes palladium nanocubes ({100} facets) for hydrogen electrocatalysis. Nanocube size significantly impacts hydrogen interaction and reaction kinetics, offering insights for designing stable, active electrocatalysts.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Palladium nanocubes (Pd NCs) with {100} facets are crucial for catalysis.
- Controlling NC size and stability is vital for electrochemical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize size-controlled palladium nanocubes ({100} facets).
- To investigate the effect of Pd NC size on hydrogen interaction and electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HER and HOR).
- To explore the relationship between hydrogen interaction, electronic structure, and catalytic kinetics.
Main Methods:
- Stepwise seed-mediated growth for Pd NC synthesis.
- Characterization using HR-TEM, XPS, Raman, ATR-FTIR, TGA, and STEM-EDX.
- Electrochemical testing for HER and HOR kinetics on Vulcan carbon-supported Pd NCs.
- Theoretical calculations to understand hydrogen interaction and electronic structure.
Main Results:
- Pd NCs with {100} facets were successfully synthesized and stabilized on Vulcan carbon.
- Nanocube size strongly influenced hydrogen absorption capacity (H:Pd ratio from 0.28 to 0.48).
- HER and HOR kinetics decreased with increasing Pd NC size (from 15.5 to 4.6 mA.mgPd-1 for ≈15 nm to 34 nm NCs).
Conclusions:
- Pd NC size is a critical factor controlling hydrogen interaction and electrocatalytic activity.
- Hydrogen adsorption and lattice penetration tune the electronic structure, impacting HER kinetics.
- This research provides a foundation for designing stable and highly active palladium-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen reactions.
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