Sequential Ni-Pt Decoration on Co(OH)2 via Microwave Reduction for Highly Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution
Luan Liu1, Hongru Liu1, Zikang Chen1
1Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 24, 2025
Summary
A new microwave method created Ni-Pt@Co(OH)2 catalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution (HER). This catalyst shows excellent performance and durability, using less platinum than traditional catalysts.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Developing efficient electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution (HER) is crucial for renewable energy technologies.
- Platinum-based catalysts are highly effective but expensive, necessitating strategies for reduced platinum usage.
- Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) serves as a potential support material, but its catalytic activity for HER needs enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid, solvent-free microwave-assisted strategy for fabricating platinum (Pt) and nickel (Ni)-modified Co(OH)2 catalysts.
- To investigate the structural and electrochemical properties of these modified catalysts for alkaline HER.
- To evaluate the performance and stability of the most promising catalyst, Ni-Pt@Co(OH)2, for efficient hydrogen production.
Main Methods:
- Solvent-free microwave-assisted synthesis for catalyst preparation.
- Structural characterization using techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
- Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for elemental analysis.
- Electrochemical measurements, including linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), in 1.0 M KOH.
- Accelerated degradation tests (CV cycling) and long-term continuous operation tests.
Main Results:
- The Ni-Pt@Co(OH)2 catalyst, prepared via sequential Ni-then-Pt loading, demonstrated superior performance.
- Structural analysis revealed uniform Pt dispersion with dominant Pt(111) facets and significantly reduced Pt loading compared to Pt@Co(OH)2.
- Electrochemical tests showed an overpotential of 71 mV at 10 mA·cm-2, comparable to commercial Pt/C, and 4-6.5 times higher mass activity.
- Lower charge-transfer resistance and excellent stability with negligible degradation after 3000 CV cycles and 11 hours of operation were observed.
Conclusions:
- The Ni-Pt@Co(OH)2 catalyst exhibits outstanding activity and stability for alkaline HER, attributed to enhanced Pt utilization, abundant conductive sites, and Ni-Pt interfacial synergy.
- This work presents a promising, cost-effective approach for developing highly efficient HER electrocatalysts with minimized platinum consumption.
- The developed microwave-assisted strategy offers a rapid and sustainable route for advanced catalyst fabrication.
Keywords:
Ni-Pt@Co(OH)2Pt utilizationhydrogen evolution reaction (HER)interfacial synergymicrowave-assisted synthesisMore Related Videos
06:32A Simple, Low-cost, and Robust System to Measure the Volume of Hydrogen Evolved by Chemical Reactions with Aqueous Solutions
Published on: August 17, 2016
20.2K
10:57Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
18.9K
Related Concept Videos
02:13Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
13.9K
Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called catalytic hydrogenation.
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
13.9K
02:17Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
3.8K
Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
3.8K
02:24Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
8.9K
Introduction
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
8.9K
01:19Acid Halides to Alcohols: LiAlH4 Reduction
3.8K
Acid halides are reduced to alcohols in the presence of a strong reducing agent like lithium aluminum hydride.
The mechanism proceeds in three steps. First, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acid halide to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Next, the carbonyl group is re-formed, and the halide ion departs as a leaving group, generating an aldehyde. A second nucleophilic attack by the hydride yields an alkoxide ion, which, upon protonation, gives a primary alcohol as...
The mechanism proceeds in three steps. First, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acid halide to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Next, the carbonyl group is re-formed, and the halide ion departs as a leaving group, generating an aldehyde. A second nucleophilic attack by the hydride yields an alkoxide ion, which, upon protonation, gives a primary alcohol as...
3.8K
02:44Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
12.5K
Alkenes are converted to 1,2-diols or glycols through a process called dihydroxylation. It involves the addition of two hydroxyl groups across the double bond with two different stereochemical approaches, namely anti and syn. Dihydroxylation using osmium tetroxide progresses with syn stereochemistry.
12.5K
02:23Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction
12.0K
Reduction is a simple strategy to convert a carbonyl group to a hydroxyl group. The three major pathways to reduce carbonyls to alcohols are catalytic hydrogenation, hydride reduction, and borane reduction.
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...
12.0K