Probing the Surface of Platinum during the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Electrolyte

Kelsey A. Stoerzinger, Marco Favaro, Philip N. Ross, Junko Yano, Zhi Liu, Zahid Hussain, Ethan J. Crumlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

Understanding the surface chemistry of electrocatalysts in operando can bring insight into the reaction mechanism, and ultimately the design of more efficient materials for sustainable energy storage and conversion. Recent progress in synchrotron based X-ray spectroscopies for in operando characterization allows us to probe the solid/liquid interface directly while applying an external potential, applied here to the model system of Pt in alkaline electrolyte for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). We employ ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) to identify the oxidation and reduction of Pt-oxides and hydroxides on the surface as a function of applied potential, and further assess the potential for hydrogen adsorption and absorption (hydride formation) during and after the HER. This new window into the surface chemistry of Pt in alkaline electrolyte brings insight into the nature of the rate limiting step, the extent of H ad/absorption, and its persistence at more anodic potentials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)864-870
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry B
Volume122
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 18 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Chemical Society.

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