Crystal Facet-Manipulated 2D Pt Nanodendrites to Achieve an Intimate Heterointerface for Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 144; no. 20; pp. 9033 - 9043
• Main Authors: Hong, Yu-Rim, Dutta, Soumen, Jang, Sun Woo, Ngome Okello, Odongo Francis, Im, Hyeonae, Choi, Si-Young, Han, Jeong Woo, Lee, In Su
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 25-05-2022
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c01589

Despite the Pt-catalyzed alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) progressing via oxophilic metal-hydroxide surface hybridization, maximizing Pt reactivity alongside operational stability is still unsatisfactory due to the lack of well-designed and optimized interface structures. Producing atomically flat two-dimensional Pt nanodendrites (2D-PtNDs) through our 2D nanospace-confined synthesis strategy, this study tackles the insufficient interfacial contact effect during HER catalysis by realizing an area-maximized and firmly bound lateral heterointerface with NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH). The well-oriented {110} crystal surface exposure of Pt promotes electronic interplay that bestows strong LDH binding. The charge-relocated interfacial bond in 2D-PtND/LDH accelerates the hydrogen generation steps and achieves nearly the highest reported Pt mass activity enhancement (∼11.2 times greater than 20 wt % Pt/C) and significantly improved long-term operational stability. This work uncovers the importance of the shape and facet of Pt to create heterointerfaces that provide catalytic synergy for efficient hydrogen production.