Cited by 633Electrocatalysts for Energy ConversionCO2 Reduction Techniques and CatalystsCatalytic Processes in Materials Science

A fundamental viewpoint on the hydrogen spillover phenomenon of electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Open access
Li, Jiayuan, Hu, Jun, Zhang, Mingkai, Gou, Wangyan, Zhang, Sai, Chen, Zhong, Qu, Yongquan, Ma, Yuanyuan·2021·Nature Communications

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Hydrogen spillover phenomenon of metal-supported electrocatalysts can significantly impact their activity in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, design of active electrocatalysts faces grand challenges due to the insufficient understandings on how to overcome this thermodynamically and kinetically adverse process. Here we theoretically profile that the interfacial charge accumulation induces by the large work function difference between metal and support (∆Φ) and sequentially strong interfacial proton adsorption construct a high energy barrier for hydrogen transfer. Theoretical simulations and control experiments rationalize that small ∆Φ induces interfacial charge dilution and relocation, thereby weakening interfacial proton adsorption and enabling efficient hydrogen spillover for HER. Experimentally, a series of Pt alloys-CoP catalysts with tailorable ∆Φ show a strong ∆Φ-dependent HER activity, in which PtIr/CoP with the smallest ∆Φ = 0.02 eV delivers the best HER performance. These findings have conclusively identified ∆Φ as the criterion in guiding the design of hydrogen spillover-based binary HER electrocatalysts.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41467-021-23750-4

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  • The reduced peak displacement indicates faster hydrogen adsorption and desorption kinetics on the HEA|Pt heterostructure, consistent with accelerated interfacial charge transfer processes.

    “This reduced peak displacement indicates faster hydrogen adsorption and desorption kinetics on the HEA|Pt heterostructure, consistent with accelerated interfacial charge transfer processes.53−55”

    From High-Entropy Alloy Aerogels with High-Density Solid–Solid Heterointerfaces for Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution (2026) · cites this paper as [55]

    The Results section (‘Evidences for hydrogen spillover in Pt2Ir1/CoP’; page not provided) interprets a reduced hydrogen-desorption peak-shift slope as accelerated desorption kinetics. But it studies Pt2Ir1/CoP, not HEA|Pt, and does not establish that the peak displacement indicates faster adsorption kinetics or accelerated interfacial charge transfer in HEA|Pt. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • EIS-derived Tafel slopes under Ohm's law can estimate the hydrogen adsorption kinetics.

    “Owing to the potential-dependent R2 for these electrocatalysts, plotting logR2 vs overpotential and corresponding the EIS-derived Tafel slopes under Ohm’s law can estimate the hydrogen adsorption kinetics30.”

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Authors
Li, J., Hu, J., Zhang, M., Gou, W., Zhang, S., Chen, Z., Qu, Y., & Ma, Y.
Affiliations
  • Northwestern Polytechnical University (CN)
  • Northwest University (CN)
  • Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN)
  • Nanyang Technological University (SG)
Corresponding author
  • Hu, Jun
  • Qu, Yongquan
  • Ma, Yuanyuan
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2021-06-09
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
3502-3502
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3137345457
Cited by
633
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 114 · 2025: 192 · 2024: 169 · 2023: 109 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 6
FWCI
15.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018M640994)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (21676216, Grants 21872109)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Catalytic Processes in Materials Science
Keywords
hydrogen spillover, hydrogen evolution reaction, metal-support interface, work function difference, interfacial charge accumulation, electrocatalyst design, supported metal catalysts

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