journal article·2025-11-14

Gradient Built-in Electric Fields in Janus Catalysts Govern Hydrogen Evolution via pH-Dependent Mechanisms

Rui Jiang, Fuhua Li, Yuan Liu, Yumin Da, Tianshu Gao, Zihao Li, Hongbin Yang, Qing Mao, Yida Deng, Bin Liu

ACS Energy Letters· Volume 10· Issue 11
Publisher page

Abstract

Hydrogen evolution reaction is essential for the hydrogen economy but is limited by sluggish kinetics, largely due to the difficulty in precisely tuning the electronic structure of the electrocatalysts. The built-in electric field (BEF) caused by the functional interface generated by loading noble metals on transition metal derivatives can effectively break the above limitation. However, the effects of the BEF have primarily been explored through qualitative or theoretical calculations, lacking quantitative experimental insight into the underlying mechanisms. In this work, we design a series of Janus catalysts by anchoring trace amounts of Pt onto crystalline or amorphous transition-metal phosphides, enabling gradient modulation of the BEF from 0.1 to 1.77 eV and enhancing HER activity in both acidic and alkaline media via distinct mechanisms. Crystalline CoP/Pt, with the weakest BEF, shows a lower energy barrier for *H spillover from Pt to Co. It requires only 10 mV to reach 10 mA cm –2 in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4, with a Tafel slope of 22.35 mV dec –1 . In contrast, amorphous NiP/Pt, exhibiting the strongest BEF, lowers the energy barrier for water dissociation. It delivers 10 mA cm –2 at 12 mV in 1 M KOH, with a Tafel slope of 20.81 mV dec –1 .
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · Nanoporous metals and alloys · CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Precious Metal Functional Materials, Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology (Ministry of Education)

Tianjin University

School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Nanyang Technological University

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

City University of Hong Kong

School of Chemistry

Southwest Jiaotong University

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Suzhou University of Science and Technology

School of Chemcal Engineering

Dalian University of Technology

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Tropic Ocean Engineering Materials and Materials Evaluation, Key Laboratory of Pico Electron Microscopy of Hainan Province

Hainan University

Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy (HKICE) & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF)

Funding

Innovation and Technology Fund · City University of Hong Kong · National Natural Science Foundation of China · JC STEM Lab of Advanced CO2 Upcycling

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