Lattice Strain Regulated by Hetero/Homo Atom Interface Merging on NiMo Nanocluster for High-Performance Hydrogen Production.

Lattice strain engineering represents a cutting-edge approach capable of delivering enhanced performance across various applications. The lattice strain can affect the performance of electrochemical catalysts by changing the binding energy between the surface-active sites and intermediates. In this work, lattice strain is regulated through a homo/heterogeneous atomic interface merging. The strong lattice strain and electronic interactions between Ni and Mo facilitated the reaction kinetic of HER. The prepared NiMo@SSM exhibits excellent HER catalytic performance with 70 mV overpotential at the current density of 10 mA cm^-2 and long-term stability. The method of controlling lattice strain through hetero/homo atom interface merging provides a new strategy for designing high-performance alkaline HER electrocatalysts.