Targeted construction of high-performance single-atom platinum-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Exploring platinum single-atom electrocatalysts (SACs) is of great significance for effectively catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction in order to maximize the utilization of metal atoms. Herein, ruthenium clusters with several atoms (Ru_x) supported on nitrogen-doped, cost-efficient Black Pearls 2000 (Ru_xNBP), were synthesized as initial materials via a simple hydrothermal method. Then, [PtCl₄]^2– ion was reductively deposited on Ru_xNBP to obtain a Pt SAC (Pt₁/Ru_xNBP). Electrochemical measurements demonstrate the excellent HER performance of Pt₁/Ru_xNBP with a 5.7-fold increase in mass activity compared to the commercial Pt/C at 20 mV. Moreover, the cell voltage of the proton exchange membrane electrolyzer with Pt₁/Ru_xNBP is 20 mV lower compared to that with commercial Pt/C at 1.0 A cm⁻². Physical characterization and density functional theory calculations revealed that the preserved Pt–Cl bond of [PtCl₄]^2– and the Ru_xNBP support co-regulate the 5d state of isolated Pt atoms and enhance the catalytic HER capacity of Pt₁/Ru_xNBP.