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A Strongly Coupled Cluster Heterostructure with Pt-N-Mo Bonding for Durable and Efficient H2 Evolution in Anion-Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers

  • 0State Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety, Shandong Key Laboratory of Intelligent Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China.
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June 13, 2025

Abstract

Creating strongly coupled heterostructures with favorable catalytic activities is crucial for promoting the performance of catalytic reactions, especially those involve multiple intermediates. Herein, we fabricated a strongly coupled platinum/molybdenum nitrides nanocluster heterostructure on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (Pt/Mo₂N-NrGO) for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. The well-defined Pt-containing Anderson-type polyoxometalates promote strong interfacial Pt-N-Mo bonding in Pt/Mo2N-NrGO, which exhibits a remarkably low overpotential, high mass activity, and exceptional long-term durability (> 500 h at 1500 mA cm⁻2) in an anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE). Operando Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory reveal that pronounced electronic coupling at the Pt/Mo₂N cluster interface facilitates the catalytic decomposition of H2O through synergistic stabilization of intermediates (Pt-H* and Mo-OH*), thereby enhancing the kinetics of the rate-determining Volmer step. Techno-economic analysis indicates a levelized hydrogen production cost of $2.02 kg⁻1, meeting the US DOE targets. Our strategy presents a viable pathway to designing next-generation catalysts for industrial AEMWE for green hydrogen production.

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