A biomass-derived PtCe@C-N catalyst with strong metal-support interaction for high-efficiency hydrogen evolution

The development of efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for sustainable energy applications. In this study, a biomass-derived PtCe@C-N catalyst with strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) was synthesized to achieve high efficiency and long-term stability in HER. This approach employed linden wood slices as a biomass carbon support, combined with freeze-drying and in situ carbonization, facilitating the formation of a PtCe solid solution, the synthesis of an N-doped carbon matrix, and the in situ anchoring of PtCe alloy nanoparticles. The resulting PtCe@C-N-1000 catalyst exhibited uniformly dispersed PtCe nanoparticles (ranging from 3.5 to 10.96 nm) and demonstrated outstanding HER activity along with excellent catalytic stability, achieving a low overpotential of 26 mV at 10 mA/cm 2 and a Tafel slope of only 26.8 mV/dec. Moreover, the catalyst also demonstrated high mass activity (6.06 A/mg at an overpotential of 100 mV) while maintaining a low Pt content (3.24 wt%), surpassing many commercial Pt-based catalysts. Stability tests further confirmed the robustness of the catalyst, with 81.96 % of its initial activity retained after 24 h of continuous operation. This study offers a sustainable and scalable strategy for designing high-performance, low-Pt HER electrocatalysts and provides valuable insights into the development of cost-effective catalysts with improved Pt utilization and long-term operational stability.