Ultra-low Pt nanoparticles on self-supported monolithic Ni₃B toward efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Developing efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution is crucial for renewable energy technologies.
• Platinum-based catalysts are highly effective but expensive, driving research into alternatives.
• Nickel boride (Ni₃B) is explored as a potential low-cost support material.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize ultra-low platinum content catalysts supported on Ni₃B.
• To evaluate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance of Pt/Ni₃B.
• To investigate the underlying electronic properties contributing to catalytic activity.

Main Methods:

• Facile impregnation method for loading ultra-low platinum content onto Ni₃B supports.
• Electrochemical characterization, including current density measurements in 0.5 M H₂SO₄.
• Theoretical calculations (e.g., density functional theory) to analyze electronic structure.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized Pt/Ni₃B with ultra-low platinum loading.
• Pt/Ni₃B achieved high current densities (j > 100 mA cm^-2) in acidic media.
• Performance was comparable to commercial platinum on carbon (Pt/C) catalysts.
• Theoretical calculations indicated modified electronic properties of Pt on Ni₃B are responsible for enhanced activity.

Conclusions:

• Ultra-low Pt loading on Ni₃B is a viable strategy for high-performance electrocatalysts.
• The Ni₃B support significantly enhances the catalytic activity of platinum for hydrogen evolution.
• Modified electronic interactions between Pt and Ni₃B are key to the observed superior performance.