Strain-Controlled Pt Single-Atom Catalysts on Crumpled MXene Supports for Highly Active Hydrogen Evolution

Background
Hydrogen demand is driving electrolytic water splitting, and Pt remains highly efficient for alkaline hydrogen evolution but costly. MXene is conductive, hydrophilic, and able to anchor single atoms, yet restacking limits active-site utilization. Strain can tune electronic structure and adsorption energetics, but the conventional d-band model gives limited explanation. A scalable strain-control strategy is therefore needed, targeting alkaline HER and industrial water electrolysis.

Innovation
A physical diaphragm balloon method builds a tunable long-range strain field on crumpled Mo₂TiC₂Tₓ and anchors Pt single atoms, strengthening Pt–MXene electronic coupling, optimizing H adsorption, and promoting interfacial water dissociation and Mo–O–Pt hydrogen spillover. Mass activity reaches 11,859 mA mgPt⁻¹; overpotentials at 10 and 50 mA cm⁻² are only 24.9 and 75.5 mV; Tafel slope is 31.61 mV dec⁻¹, highlighting Pt reduction and efficient hydrogen evolution.

MXene Materials
Monolayer Mo₂TiC₂Tₓ is obtained by HF etching and TMAOH exfoliation, Pt is anchored at Mo vacancies, sprayed onto an inflated latex balloon, and crumpled upon deflation, followed by two-step annealing to stabilize single atoms. GPA, EXAFS, and XPS confirm lattice strain and atomic Pt dispersion. The electrolyzer reaches 3 A cm⁻² at 1.98 V and operates stably at 1 A cm⁻² for 500 h, targeting industrial alkaline water electrolysis.

Note: This post is only for sharing frontier developments and does not constitute any related advice.

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