Synergistic effect of edge modification of NiPt alloy NDs and Ni doping in matrix for carbon nanosheets to effectively boost alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

The development of high-efficiency electrocatalysts with low noble metals content that can be used for large-scale hydrogen production is one of the current challenges. In this context, a novel electrocatalyst has been synthesized, which is a nickel-doped carbon nanosheet edge with NiPt alloy nanodots (NDs). This synthesis is achieved through a one-step in situ process that simultaneously incorporates doping and growth. The NiPt alloy NDs are highly dispersed on the edges of the carbon nanosheets, which not only prevents their agglomeration but also maximizes the exposure of active sites. Additionally, the incorporation of nickel into the carbon matrix serves to optimize the electronic structure, thereby enhancing the overall conductivity. As a result, the obtained NiPt/Ni–C catalysts will produce the synergistic effect induced by the edge modification of NiPt alloy NDs and Ni doping in the matrix, thereby improving hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance in an alkaline medium. The NiPt/Ni–C-2 catalyst has an overpotential as low as 26 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm −2 , the Tafel slope is only 20 mV dec −1 , which is far lower than that of the commercial Pt/C benchmark (43 mV). Meanwhile, the NiPt/Ni–C-2 catalyst can maintain continuously stable operation for 24 h without performance decrease. This work provides a new design philosophy for the exploitation of the low-cost, high-efficiency and stable catalyst in the alkaline HER application.