Pt nanoparticles on activated phosphorus-doped graphitic nanoplatelets for high performance hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

The method of producing hydrogen through water splitting is eco-friendly and efficient. This process requires catalysts with excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activities and good stability. However, most of the water splitting catalysts currently contain precious metals that have problems such as high cost, low reserves, and low durability. Therefore, to utilize hydrogen energy, developing a new catalyst with a non-precious metal is required to solve these problems. This work fabricated phosphorus-doped graphitic nanoplatelets (PGnP) through a mechanochemical reaction between graphite and phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5). Then, the PGnP was activated at 900 °C for 1 h under CO2 to increase the specific surface area (SSA) and porosity increasing the mass transfer of the catalysts. As a result, a Pt/A_PGnP with a lower Pt content (12.75 wt%) exhibits a similar overpotential and lower Tafel slopes but higher stability compared with a commercial Pt/C (Pt: 20 wt%). The A_PGnP, with its numerous active sites, high surface area, and incorporation of phosphorus (P), improves the performance of the HER in an acidic media. Thus, the A_PGnP, as a new support, enhances the catalytic performance in the HER.