Single‐Atom Intercalation‐Driven Topological Ferroelectric Metal for High‐Performance Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Source abstract
Abstract
ABSTRACT Intercalation engineering has become an effective strategy for tailoring the electronic and structural properties of layered materials, enabling functionalities that are absent in their pristine counterparts. In this work, we propose that intercalation engineering can be used to realize multifunctional catalysts that combine metallic and topological electronic structures with switchable polarization and catalytic activity—an outstanding challenge in materials science. Specifically, inserting an isolated Cu atom into monolayer AB 3 (A = Bi, Sb, As; B = Cl, Br, I) converts the parent nonpolar semiconductors into ferroelectric (FE) metallic systems with switchable FE polarization. This intercalation simultaneously reconstructs the electronic band structures and induces Weyl points near the Fermi level. Remarkably, the presence of an intercalated Cu atom substantially enhances the intrinsic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of monolayer AB 3 , leading to a significantly reduced hydrogen adsorption free energy. Furthermore, the switchable FE polarization enables effective modulation of the catalytic activity, allowing the HER performance to be tuned by FE polarization reversal. Our results establish single‐atom intercalation as a powerful route to couple ferroelectricity, topological metals, and electrocatalysis, opening a pathway toward electrically controllable topological FE catalysts for sustainable hydrogen production.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · Chemical and Physical Properties of Materials · Multiferroics and related materials
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Chemical Engineering University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
Yangtze Delta Region Academy in Jiaxing Beijing Institute of Technology Jiaxing China
School of Materials Science and Engineering Beijing Institute of Technology Beijing China
Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales Australia
Funding
Australian Research Council
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