Pyrolysis-Free Formed Cooperative Coupling Pt-Co Dual-Functional Sites for Saline Electrolysis with High Adaptability

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Efficient hydrogen production via water splitting is crucial for sustainable energy.
• Developing adaptable and cost-effective catalysts is key for large-scale applications.
• Current methods often struggle with stability and efficiency in saline environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a pyrolysis-free strategy for synthesizing cooperative single cobalt atoms and platinum nanoclusters.
• To investigate the dual functionality and adaptability of these catalysts for saline water electrolysis.
• To elucidate the mechanism behind the enhanced catalytic performance and stability.

Main Methods:

• Pyrolysis-free synthesis of single cobalt atoms and platinum nanoclusters.
• Fabrication of electrodes and symmetric cells for overall saline electrolysis.
• Comprehensive analysis of catalyst structure-activity relationships and stability testing.

Main Results:

• The synthesized catalysts exhibit dual functionality and high adaptability for saline electrolysis.
• Both electrode and symmetric cell configurations demonstrated good catalytic activity and stability.
• Cooperative coupling between Pt-Co sites was shown to improve activity, prevent chloride poisoning, and ensure selectivity.

Conclusions:

• The rational synthesis enables cooperative coupling of Pt-Co active sites, enhancing catalytic performance.
• The catalysts maintain excellent performance in saline water and under fluctuant/extreme hydroxide concentrations.
• This work advances the development of efficient and robust electrolyzers for saline or seawater applications.