Synthesis of Pt(WC) catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (her) by platinum deposition under open circuit conditions

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Abstract

Pt(WC1–x)/Cu electrodes were obtained by deposition of platinum onto the surface of tungsten carbides under open circuit conditions. A tungsten carbide layer with a thickness of ca. 20 μm was pre-formed on the surface of copper plates by thermolysis of a gas mixture WF6 + H2 + C3H8. During the deposition process, platinum nanoparticles are formed on the surface of tungsten carbides. The source of electrons for the reduction of Pt(II) species is the oxidation of tungsten carbides surface layers. The morphology of the prepared electrodes was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the chemical composition of the surface layers by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the phase composition by X-ray phase analysis (XRD). The deposition of small amounts of platinum (0.002–0.24 mg Pt/cm2 of the geometric electrode surface) resulted in a significant increase in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) rate. The catalytic activity for the sample with 0.24 mg/cm2 platinum loading approached that of the Pt/Pt electrode. The voltammetric characteristics of the HER on the obtained Pt(WC1–x)/Cu electrodes were determined, and it was assumed that hydrogen evolution proceeds on catalytically active platinum nanoparticles.

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About the authors

D. A. Khanin

National Research Nuclear University MEPhI

Email: vitkuzn1@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

V. V. Kuznetsov

D.I. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia; A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: vitkuzn1@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow

D. D. Makhno

D.I. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia

Email: vitkuzn1@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

V. V. Dushik

Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry RAS

Email: vitkuzn1@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

E. A. Ruban

D.I. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia; A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry RAS; Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medical Physics RAS

Email: vitkuzn1@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow; Chernogolovka

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Diffractograms of WC1-x coating after vapor deposition and of Pt(WC1-x)-composite after platinum deposition by flask deposition for 30 min. CuKα irradiation.

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3. Fig. 2. Runoff potential transient recorded during platinum deposition on the surface of tungsten carbides. See comments in the text.

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4. Fig. 3. Platinum particles on the surface of WC1-x/Cu electrode obtained by platinum deposition under no external polarization conditions. Bestock deposition time is 10 min.

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5. Fig. 4. XRD spectra of the surface layers of Pt(WC1-x)/Cu electrodes: overview, Pt 4f, W 4f and C1s. MgKα emission.

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6. Fig. 5. Electrodesorption of CO monolayer from the surface of Pt(WC1-x)/Cu electrode in 0.5 M H2SO4. v = 5 mV/s, Sreom = 10 cm2, deposition time - 30 min. The inset shows the result of background curve subtraction in the electrodesorption region of carbon monolayer.

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7. Fig. 6. Volt-ampere characteristics of RWV on Pt(WC1-x)/Cz electrodes. The RVV polarization curves are related to the geometric (a, b) electrode area, EASA of Pt (c) and platinum mass (d). In (b), the polarization curves are plotted in Tafel coordinates.

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8. Supplementary materials
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