Self-modulated hydrogen electrocatalysis on sub-2-nm platinum nanoparticles by in situ generated surface hydrides

Liang Chang, Yangfan Shao, Linqing Miao, Yuyuan Jiang, Qingqing Lu, Sijie Wang, Feiyu Kang, Jia Li and Lin Gan ()
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Liang Chang: Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
Yangfan Shao: Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
Linqing Miao: Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
Yuyuan Jiang: Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
Qingqing Lu: Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
Sijie Wang: Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
Feiyu Kang: Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
Jia Li: Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
Lin Gan: Tsinghua University, Key Laboratory of Electrocatalytic Materials and Green Hydrogen Technology of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Revealing the surface structure evolution under working conditions is crucial for understanding the activity and stability of electrocatalysts. Platinum, the state-of-the-art electrocatalyst for hydrogen oxidation in fuel cells or hydrogen evolution in water splitting, is generally considered to be stable and little attention has been paid to its authentic structure during the hydrogen oxidation/evolution electrocatalysis. Herein, we disclose the in situ generation of surface hydrides on sub-2-nm Pt nanoparticles working under the electrode potentials of hydrogen electrocatalysis, showing the migration of surface-adsorbed hydrogen to interstitial hydrogen at the Pt subsurface. While weakening the metal-support interaction and inducing particle coalescence/detachment, the in situ generated surface hydride optimizes the binding energy of surface Pt with adsorbed hydrogen, leading to overall enhanced activities on hydrogen oxidation/evolution. The smaller the particle size, the lower the energy barrier for surface hydride formation, and consequently the more significant the activity enhancement, resulting in a pronounced particle size effect during long-term hydrogen electrocatalysis.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65122-2

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