Light-Induced Ultrafast Charge Transfer in Pt-Modified Cs₂PdBr₆ for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Photocatalysis

Background:

• Halide perovskites possess excellent optoelectronic properties but are underutilized in electrocatalysis.
• Understanding light-assisted electrocatalysis mechanisms in perovskites is crucial for unlocking their potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and investigate a platinum-modified halide perovskite for enhanced light-assisted electrocatalysis.
• To elucidate the mechanisms behind improved catalytic performance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Pt-modified Cs2PdBr6 (Cs2PdBr6@Pt1.5) all-inorganic halide perovskite.
• Electrocatalytic testing for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
• Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations.

Main Results:

• Cs2PdBr6@Pt1.5 achieved a low overpotential (11 mV at 10 mA cm-2) with remarkable water stability.
• Pt incorporation enhanced charge separation and migration, boosting HER performance.
• DFT calculations confirmed electron transfer from perovskite to Pt and optimized intermediate adsorption.

Conclusions:

• Pt-modified halide perovskites offer a stable and efficient platform for light-assisted electrocatalytic water splitting.
• This work provides insights into the mechanisms of light-enhanced electrocatalysis in perovskite materials.
• Potential applications in renewable energy conversion and storage.