Platinum Nanoparticles Anchored on Flowerlike Zinc Oxide Nanosheet Array Electrocatalysts for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The generation of hydrogen by the process of water splitting is a promising technological advancement, and the most effective solution to overcome the sluggish kinetics in the electrolysis process is the development of powerful electrocatalysts. Herein, platinum nanoparticle-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanosheet arrays supported on a carbon fiber paper surface (Pt@ZnO/CFP) were synthesized through hydrothermal and pyrolysis processes and further used as an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acid media. The structural integration of ZnO nanosheets and Pt nanoparticles exposed a large number of active sites and optimized the electronic structure; in addition, the synergistic effect between the components comprehensively enhanced the HER performance. The resulting Pt@ZnO/CFP requires a competitive overpotential of 74 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm–2 and achieves a small Tafel slope of 60 mV dec–1. Additionally, there is no significant fluctuation with the stability test in 0.5 M H2SO4. This work provides a strategy for the synthesis of efficient electrocatalysts with a low noble-metal loading for HER.