title: PdCu@Pd Nanocube with Pt-like Activity for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.
abstract: The electronic properties of metal surfaces can be modulated to weaken the binding energy of adsorbed H-intermediates on the catalyst surface, thus enhancing catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here we first prepare PdCu alloy nanocubes (NCs) by coreduction of Cu(acac)2(acac = acetylacetonate) and Na2PdCl4in the presence of oleylamine (OAm) and trioctylphosphine (TOP). The PdCu NC coated glassy carbon electrode is then anodized at a constant potential of 0.51 V vs Ag/AgCl at room temperature in 0.5 M H2SO4solution for 10 s, which converts PdCu NCs into core@shell PdCu@Pd NCs that show much enhanced Pt-like activity for the HER and much more robust durability. The improvements in surface property and HER activity are rationalized based on strain and ligand effects that enhance the activity of the edge-exposed Pd atoms on core@shell PdCu@Pd structure. This work opens up a new perspective for simultaneously reducing metal Pd cost and achieving excellent performance toward the HER.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China.|School of Chemistry and ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Monash University , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Monash University , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Si-Xuan
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Monash University , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiantai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
keywords: PdCu@Pd nanocubes; Pt-like activity; anodization; electrocatalysis; hydrogen evolution reaction