Platinum Nanoparticle Incorporated in Co3o4 Efficiently Catalyze the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Electrocatalysts in alkaline electrocatalytic water splitting is curial to efficiently produce hydrogen while posing a challenge to show excellent performances. Herein, we have successfully synthesized platinum nanoparticle incorporated in Co3O4 nanostructure shows superior HER activity and stability in alkaline solution (the overpotentials of 37 mV to reach 10 mA cm-2). The outstanding electrocatalytic activity originates from synergistic effects between Pt and Co3O4 and increased electron conduction. Theoretical calculations show a significant decrease in the △GH* of Co active sites and a remarkable increase in electron transport. Our work puts forward a special and simple synthesized way of adjusting H* adsorption energy of inert site for application in HER.

Keywords: hydrogen evolution reaction, Pt nanoparticle, Co3O4 nanoarrays, electrocatalytic, synergistic effect