High-Valence Platinum Clusters-Loaded Yttria Nanoparticles as High-Performance Catalysts for Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution

Efficient hydrogen production through an electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) represents an attractive technology for addressing global energy challenges. Toward this end, the development of high-performance HER catalysts represents a critical first step. Herein, high-valence PtCl_xO_y clusters are dispersed on Y₂O₃ nanoparticle surfaces via an ambient impregnation method at a Pt loading of up to 21.31 wt % using H₂PtCl₆ as the precursor. Among the series, the PtCl_xO_y/Y₂O₃-4 sample, with a Pt content of 5.84 wt %, exhibits the best HER activity in alkaline media with a low overpotential of -26 mV at 10 A cm^-2. This is ascribed to the synergistic interactions between the Pt clusters and Y₂O₃ as well as the surrounding O and Cl atoms that impact the energetics of hydrogen adsorption, as revealed by computational studies based on density functional theory calculations. Results from this study underscore the impact of electronic manipulation on the electrocatalytic activity of nanocomposites for electrochemical energy technologies.