Carbon-Promoted Pt-Single Atoms Anchored on RuO<sub>2</sub> Nanorods to Boost Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution
Jing‐Fang Huang, Wen-Jun Hsieh, Jeng‐Lung Chen
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide While efficient for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), Pt is limited by its cost and rarity. Traditional Pt catalysts and Pt single-atom (aPt) catalysts (Pt-SACs) face challenges in maintaining kinetically favorable HER pathways (Volmer–Tafel) at ultralow Pt loadings. Herein, carbon-promoted aPts were deposited on RuO 2 without the addition of reductants. aPts confined on carbon-supported RuO 2 nanorods (aPt/RuO 2NR /Carbon) promoted “inter-aPts” Tafel. aPt/RuO 2NR /Carbon is the Pt-SAC that retained underpotentially deposited H; additionally, its HER onset overpotential was “negative”. The aPt/RuO 2NR /Carbon exhibited 260-fold higher Pt mass activity ( i mPt )/turnover frequency (TOF) (522.7 A mg –1 /528.4 s –1 ) than that of commercial Pt/C (1.9 A mg –1 /1.9 s –1 ). In an ultralow Pt loading (0.19 μg cm –2 ), the HER rate-determining step maintained Volmer–Tafel and the Pt utilization efficiency was 100.3%.