Platinum Atomic Clusters Embedded in Defects of Anatase/Graphene for Efficient Electro- and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Jiapeng Ji, Zeheng Li, Chenchen Hu, Ying Sha, Siyuan Li, Xuehui Gao, Shiyu Zhou, Shiyu Zhou, T. Qiu, Chenyu Liu, Xintai Su, Yang Hou, Zhan Lin, Shaodong Zhou, Shaodong Zhou, Min Ling, Chengdu Liang
Abstract
Electro- and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (e-HER and p-HER) are two promising strategies to produce green hydrogen fuel from water. High intrinsic activity, sufficient active sites, fast charge-transfer capacity, and good optoelectronic properties must be taken into consideration simultaneously in pursuit of an ideal bifunctional catalyst. Here, platinum atomic clusters embedded in defects of TiO2 nanocrystals/graphene nanosheets (Pt–T/G) are reported as a bifunctional catalyst for electro- and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (e-HER and p-HER). High activity is delivered due to the charge transfer from the other part of the catalyst to the active center (Pt2–O4–Tix), decreasing the activation energy of the rate-limiting step, which is revealed by synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy, photoelectrochemical measurements, and simulated calculations. In regard to e-HER, it outperforms the commercial 20 wt % Pt/C catalyst by a factor of 17.5 on Pt mass basis, allowing for a 93% reduction in Pt loadings. In regard to p-HER, it achieves photocatalytic efficiency (686.8 μmol h–1) without any attenuation in 9 h.