Journal article
Exploiting dynamic water structure and structural sensitivity for nanoscale electrocatalyst design
Nano energy, v 64, 103963
01 Oct 2019
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The anomalous pH dependence of the hydrogen evolution (HER) and oxidation (HOR) reactions limits both fundamental science and material design for electrocatalytic systems in alkaline environments. Here we demonstrate the impact of Ru(OH)(x) surface decoration on the HER/HOR activity of Pt single crystals and nanocatalysts, and present evidence correlating this improvement in activity to a negative shift in the potential of zero charge (E-pzc). Proximity of the E-pzc and reaction reversible potential dictates lower transition state barriers yielding a more facile H/OH exchange and improved reaction kinetics. The effect of the surface decoration is found to be structurally sensitive to the atomic geometry of the underlying Pt substrate. Applying this structural sensitivity to catalyst design, rotating disk voltammetry of Ru(OH)(x) decorated Pt nano-octahedra (Octa-Pt/C) demonstrates negligible HOR overpotential and a HER overpotential of similar to 50 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm(2).
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Details
- Title
- Exploiting dynamic water structure and structural sensitivity for nanoscale electrocatalyst design
- Creators
- Saad Intikhab - Drexel UniversityLuis Rebollar - Drexel UniversityXianbiao Fu - University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaQin Yue - University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaYawei Li - Drexel UniversityYijin Kang - University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaMaureen H. Tang - Drexel UniversityJoshua D. Snyder - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Nano energy, v 64, 103963
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) Institute for Sustainability and Energy (ISEN) at Northwestern University 21773023 / National Natural Science Foundation of China; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 1602886 / NSF CBET-Catalysis
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000487931500024
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85073701666
- Other Identifier
- 991019169416804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Chemistry, Physical
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
- Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
- Physics, Applied