Abstract The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the most studied and promising processes for hydrogen fuel generation. Single-atom catalysts have been shown to exhibit ultra-high HER catalytic activity, but the harsh preparation conditions and the low single-atom loading hinder their practical applications. Furthermore, promoting hydrogen evolution reaction kinetics, especially in alkaline electrolytes, remains as an important challenge. Herein, Pt/C60catalysts with high-loading, high-dispersion single-atomic platinum anchored on C60are achieved through a room-temperature synthetic strategy. Pt/C60-2 exhibits high HER catalytic performance with a low overpotential (η10) of 25 mV at 10 mA cm−2. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the Pt-C60polymeric structures in Pt/C60-2 favors water adsorption, and the shell-like charge redistribution around the Pt-bonding region induced by the curved surfaces of two adjacent C60facilitates the desorption of hydrogen, thus favoring fast reaction kinetics for hydrogen evolution.
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Single-Entity Electrocatalysis at Electrode Ensembles Prepared by Template Synthesis
Nanoelectrode ensembles (NEEs), prepared by Au template synthesis, are presented as a proof-of-concept sample platform to study individual electrodeposited materials by scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM). With this platform, the non-conductive membrane support does not contribute to the electrocatalytic activity recorded at each electrode. Use of low-density template membranes results in electrodes that are isolated because initial membrane pores are typically separated by significant (microscale) distances. Electrodeposition of catalytic nanoparticles onto the electrodes of the array and observation of electrocatalytic activity are demonstrated to be suitable for correlative SECCM voltammetric mapping and electron microscopy. Suitability of NEEs for studies of surface Au oxidation, hydrazine oxidation, and hydrogen evolution (hydrogen evolution reaction, HER), and at Pt particles on NEEs (Pt-NEEs) for HER is demonstrated.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1808133
- PAR ID:
- 10315404
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of The Electrochemical Society
- Volume:
- 168
- Issue:
- 12
- ISSN:
- 0013-4651
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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