One-Step Laser Synthesis of Dual-Atom Alloy Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Recently, dual-atom alloy (DAA, also named diatomic alloy) catalysts with active metal dimers supported by a less active host metal have attracted considerable interest owing to their distinctive geometric and electrical configurations. Despite developing many ways for synthesizing DAA catalysts, most contemporary methods depend on high-temperature pyrolysis, costly apparatus, and intricate procedures. This study presents, for the first time, a one-step laser solid-phase synthesis of (PtRu)₁Co DAAs on low-defect graphene support via ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiation of mixed metal precursors on a ZIF-67@PBI composite support. The special structure enhances the catalytic performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an alkaline solution. An overpotential of 27 mV is reached at a current density of -10 mA cm⁻². The mass activity at 200 mV is 19.6 times more than that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, the catalytic activity sustained stability over 100 h at -200 mA cm⁻². The results demonstrated the potential of laser solid-phase synthesis as a viable method for synthesizing DAA catalysts via precise controlling defect formations on metal nanoparticles and carbon support. This one-step laser technique is rapid and cost-effective and opens up a new avenue toward large-scale synthesis of DAA catalysts.