Platinum Oxide Nanoparticles For Electrocheical Hydrogen Evolution Influence Of Platinum Valence State

Background

Platinum remains a leading choice of catalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution reaction (HER) but because of its high cost and low natural abundance, it is critical to optimize its use. HER catalysts with reduced amounts of Pt would be of high value. 

Technology Description

Platinum oxide nanoparticles of approximately 2 nm in diameter are deposited on carbon nitride (C3N4) nanosheets by thermal refluxing of C₃N₄ and PtCl2 or PtCl4 in water. These nanoparticles exhibit apparent electrocatalytic activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acid. Interestingly, the HER activity increases with increasing Pt4+ concentration in the nanoparticles, and the optimized catalyst even outperforms commercial Pt/C, exhibiting an overpotential of only −7.7 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of −26.3 mV dec−1. 

Applications

Hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic conditions 

 Clean hydrogen production by electrolysis

Advantages

Maximizing Pt4+ ions relative to Pt2+ ions in nanoparticles results in a very high efficiency HER catalyst while minimizing the amount of platinum used.  

Intellectual Property Information

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• Platinum Oxide Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution: Influence of Platinum Valence State - 10/28/2019