Ce Clusters Enhance Ultrafine Pt Nanoparticles for Efficient Acidic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Abstract Pt‐based catalysts have great potential for application in the hydrogen evolution reaction. However, developing cost‐effective, highly active, and durable Pt‐based electrocatalysts remains a great challenge. Herein, we report a facile strategy to synthesize ultrafine Pt nanoparticles (Pt‐CeCN) by the Ce clusters pre‐anchored on nitrogen‐doped carbon (CN). The electronic structure of Pt species is modulated by doped Ce, which reinforces the metal‐support interaction and significantly enhances the activity and stability of the catalyst in acidic electrolyte. The resultant Pt‐CeCN catalyst exhibits the overpotentials of 16.3 and 35.6 mV at current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm −2 , respectively. It is worth noting that the stability of Pt‐CeCN at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 reaches 100 h under acidic conditions. XPS analysis reveals that Pt on Pt‐CeCN shows a lower valence state than that of Pt on Pt‐CN, indicating a strong interaction between Ce and Pt atoms resulting in electron‐rich Pt nanoparticles.