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Hydrogen evolution reaction activity obtained using platinum single atoms on TiO2 nanosheets modified with graphene

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Abstract

Design and engineering of efficient electrocatalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are essential in the development of renewable energy conversion and storage. Single atomic electrocatalysts (SACs), including platinum (Pt) SACs, play a key role in catalysis owing to the ~ 100% utilization of the desired atom thus minimizing the usage of noble metals. Herein, we show a facile method to atomically anchor Pt atoms on TiO2 nanosheets modified with graphene (Pt@TiO2/NSG with an ultralow Pt loading of 1.61 wt%). The atomic dispersion of Pt on TiO2/NSG structure was confirmed by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and was anchored by numerous surface functional groups on abundant exposed basal planes in TiO2/NSG heterostructure. Benefiting from the synergetic effect due to the interaction between active centers, Pt SACs, and the TiO2/NSG substrate, the Pt@TiO2/NSG electrocatalyst exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity toward HER in an acidic electrolyte, with a low overpotential of 38 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 40 mV/dec, and a decent durability for the 1000th cycles of HER polarization curve has only 1 mV shift, which is even better than those of commercial Pt/C benchmark electrocatalysts. This work supplies a strategy to realize the controllable development of Pt SACs with low cost, high activity, and long-term stability.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

(Grant No. 52073022, and 31961133017), and the National Basic Research Program

of China (Grant No.5 2014CB745100).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Mathematics & Physics, Bei**g University of Chemical Technology, Bei**g, 100029, China

    Bixiao Zhong, Cheng Wen, **n Zhang, Zenghui Qiu & Haijun Xu

  2. Bei**g Bioprocess Key Laboratory, Bei**g University of Chemical Technology, Bei**g, 100029, China

    Bixiao Zhong, Cheng Wen, **n Zhang, Zenghui Qiu & Haijun Xu

  3. Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Yi Peng

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Zhong, B., Wen, C., Peng, Y. et al. Hydrogen evolution reaction activity obtained using platinum single atoms on TiO2 nanosheets modified with graphene. J Mater Sci 57, 16448–16459 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-022-07673-z

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