Reversing the charge transfer between platinum and sulfur-doped carbon support for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12851-w
• Publication Date: 2019-10-31T11:06:38Z
• Authors: Qiang-Qiang Yan; Dao-Xiong Wu; Sheng-Qi Chu; Zhi-Qin Chen; Yue Lin; Ming-Xi Chen; Jing Zhang; Xiao-Jun Wu; Hai-Wei Liang
• Keywords: Nanoclusters; Overpotential; Carbon fibers

Abstract Metal–support interaction is of great significance for catalysis as it can induce charge transfer between metal and support, tame electronic structure supported metals, impact adsorption energy reaction intermediates, eventually change the catalytic performance. Here, we report size-dependent reversal, that is, electrons from platinum single atoms to sulfur-doped carbons carbon supports conversely donate Pt when their size expanded ~1.5 nm cluster. The electron-enriched nanoclusters are far more active than electron-deficient catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction, exhibiting only 11 mV overpotential at 10 mA cm −2 a high mass activity 26.1 A mg −1 20 mV, which 38 times greater commercial Pt/C. Our work manifests manipulation support opens new avenues developing high-active catalysts.