Bifunctional PdMoPt trimetallene boosts alcohol–water electrolysis

Abstract

Substituting oxygen evolution with alcohol oxidation is crucial for enhancing the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at low voltages. However, the development of high-performance bifunctional catalysts remains a challenge. In this study, an ultrathin and porous PdMoPt trimetallene is developed using a wet-chemical strategy. The synergetic effect between alloying metals regulates the adsorption energy of reaction intermediates, resulting in exceptional activity and stability for the electrooxidation of various alcohols. Specifically, the mass activity of PdMoPt trimetallene toward the electrooxidation of methanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol reaches 6.13, 5.5, and 4.37 A mg_Pd+Pt⁻¹, respectively. Moreover, the catalyst demonstrates outstanding HER activity, requiring only a 39 mV overpotential to achieve 10 mA cm⁻². By employing PdMoPt trimetallene as both the anode and cathode catalyst, we established an alcohol–water hybrid electrolysis system, significantly reducing the voltage requirements for hydrogen production. This work presents a promising avenue for the development of bifunctional catalysts for energy-efficient hydrogen production.