Rationally Designed Asymmetric Pt─O─Cu Ligand to Stabilize Active Sites Towards Superior Industrial-Standard Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

Developing efficient and durable Pt-based catalysts via interface engineering remains a critical yet challenging task for water electrolysis under high-pH conditions. Herein, we design a unique asymmetric Pt─O─Cu ligand at the PtCu₂(111)/CuO(002) heterojunction interface to promote alkaline HER kinetics. This ligand balances the adsorption and desorption of H* on the Pt site by accelerating electron transfer at the interface while enhancing the adsorption of H₂O on the Cu site. Moreover, the strong d-d/sp hybridization and more delocalized d-DOS located at the Pt─O─Cu ligand enhance the interatomic interactions, which helps alleviate the dissolution and agglomeration of Pt and Cu atoms. As anticipated, the PtCu₂/CuO requires ultra-low overpotentials of 10, 14 and 47 mV in, respectively, alkaline, acidic and neutral electrolytes to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻². Even more surprising is that the PtCu₂/CuO||RuO₂ dual-electrode hydrolysis cell can stably operate at a high current density of 1 A cm⁻² for more than 500 h in a simulated industrial environment, demonstrating significant potential for industrial applications. This work provides a new paradigm for the design of industrially relevant high-performance Pt-based alkaline hydrogen evolution catalytic materials.