Composite non-noble system with bridging oxygen for catalyzing Tafel-type alkaline hydrogen evolution

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209760120
• Publication Date: 2022-12-27T21:15:16Z
• Authors: Zhigang Chen; Huimin Hu; Lichang Yin; Zhigang Zhao; Jin-Ho Choi; Gang Liu; Fengxia Geng
• Keywords: Noble metal; Cobalt oxide

Using hydrogen as a fuel is an effective way to combat energy crisis and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emission. Alkaline evolution reaction (HER) one important obtain green hydrogen, which however intensive difficult high efficiencies even when using state-of-the-art noble metal catalysts. Here, we report three-component catalytic system only non-noble elements, consisting of cobalt oxide clusters single molybdenum atoms supported on oxyanion-terminated two-dimensional MXene, enabled unusual generation by kinetically fast Volmer-Tafel process in alkaline electrolyte. The key feature this catalyst that three components are connected bridging oxygen, serves immediately adsorb H* produced during water dissociation relay it single-atom catalyst. On Mo atom, due unique coordination environment, relayed intermediates directly combine desorb, realizing H2 through Tafel pathway. presence oxygen increases acidity Brønsted acid with reversible adsorption donation proton, thus eliminating need for addition ensuring excellent sustainable HER performance. performance our comparable commercial PtRu/C. Our work makes significant contribution designing efficient catalysts electrocatalysis.