Rational construction of Pt/PtTex interface with optimal intermediate adsorption energy for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract Increasing OH* adsorption to promote water dissociation while reducing H* adsorption to accelerate hydrogen generation kinetics is an effective solution to further improve the HER activity of Pt-based catalysts. Herein, we have successfully constructed a Pt/PtTex heterogeneous catalysis interface by electrochemical activation of PtTe2 nanorods (NRs). The reduction of H* adsorption and significant increase of OH* adsorption was observed on Pt/PtTex heterojunction via cyclic voltammetry method. Theoretical calculations indicate that Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) of H* is closer to 0.00 eV and ΔG of OH* decreased from 1.36 eV of Pt (111) to −0.40 eV of Pt/PtTex, which reinforces the experimental results. The rational modulation of adsorbed intermediates endows Pt/PtTex NRs with exceptionally lower Tafel slopes of 16 and 23 mV dec−1 in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH electrolytes, which is among the best reported HER electrocatalysts.