Unraveling the Surface Termination and Evolution of Surface States for Electrocatalyst PtSn4 in Alkaline HER

Abstract

Semimetal PtSn₄ has been experimentally demonstrated as a promising topological electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under both acidic and alkaline conditions. While two possible mechanisms have been proposed to explain its activity, the role of its surface states in HER remains unclear. It is indeed in question how the surface states of this alloy evolve as HER proceeds. In this study, we investigate the surface termination that sustains conducting surface states on PtSn₄, and we track their evolution during HER catalysis. We show that a reconstructed surface with a Sn-poor termination reproduces the scanning tunneling microscopy pattern observed in experiments and sustains a conducting surface. Through phase diagram and geometric structure analysis, we outline the HER profile following the Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism. As hydrogen atoms adsorb onto the surface, the structure undergoes further reconstruction to an equilibrium phase with a coverage of two hydrides per unit cell. Meanwhile, the surface electronic bands evolve in response to interactions with the adsorbed hydrogen atoms. A hybridization diagram is further proposed for understanding the surface state evolution based on wave function and chemical bonding analyses. While the Pt atoms serve as conventional sites for hydrogen binding, the surface states of PtSn₄ are essential for stabilizing the hydrogen antibonding states via in-phase electronic interactions with the Sn components. This stabilization results in frontier surface bands that are responsible for driving the HER catalysis. Our findings provide a detailed description for the direct involvement of surface states on PtSn₄ when employed as a catalyst for HER.