Volume 17, Issue 51 2104241
Research Article

Molybdenum Carbide-PtCu Nanoalloy Heterostructures on MOF-Derived Carbon toward Efficient Hydrogen Evolution

Chengtian Zhang

Chengtian Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070 China

Foshan Xianhu Laboratory of the Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Xianhu hydrogen Valley, Foshan, 528200 China

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Qian Liu

Qian Liu

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070 China

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Pengyan Wang

Pengyan Wang

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070 China

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Jiawei Zhu

Jiawei Zhu

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070 China

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Ding Chen

Ding Chen

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070 China

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Yue Yang

Yue Yang

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070 China

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Yufeng Zhao

Yufeng Zhao

Institute for Sustainable Energy/College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China

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Zonghua Pu

Corresponding Author

Zonghua Pu

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070 China

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

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Shichun Mu

Corresponding Author

Shichun Mu

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070 China

Foshan Xianhu Laboratory of the Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Xianhu hydrogen Valley, Foshan, 528200 China

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

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First published: 28 October 2021
Citations: 33

Abstract

In this study, PtCu-Mo2C heterostructure with charge redistribution is investigated via first-principles theoretical calculations. Mo2C can promote the formation of the electron-rich region of PtCu as an active site, displaying an optimized adsorption behavior toward hydrogen in terms of reduced thermodynamic energy barriers. Owing to the attractive density functional theory calculation results, the PtCu-Mo2C heterostructure is fabricated via carbonization of the unique metal–organic framework (MOF) followed by the replacement reduction reaction for the first time. Owing to its swift kinetics and outstanding specific activity, it exhibits high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalytic activity (26 mV @ 10 mA cm−2) and superior mass activity (1 A mgPt−1 at −0.04 V) in acidic media, which is approximately six times that of commercial Pt/C catalysts. The perception of the intrinsic activity origin of the alloy with an excellent structural support can guide the development of Pt-based and other alloy catalysts in future.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

Research data are not shared.

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