Enhancing Oxygen Reduction Reaction on Pt-Based Electrocatalysts through Surface Decoration for Improved OH Reduction Equilibrium and Reduced H2O Adsorption

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Autori principali: Xu, Yu-Jun, Hsieh, Chiao-An, Zhang, Chen-Yu, Zhang, Li-Dan, Tang, Han, Zhang, Lu-Lu, Cai, Jun, Chen, Yan-Xia, Yau, Shuehlin, Liu, Zhi-Feng
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Xu, Yu-Jun
Hsieh, Chiao-An
Zhang, Chen-Yu
Zhang, Li-Dan
Tang, Han
Zhang, Lu-Lu
Cai, Jun
Chen, Yan-Xia
Yau, Shuehlin
Liu, Zhi-Feng
author_facet Xu, Yu-Jun
Hsieh, Chiao-An
Zhang, Chen-Yu
Zhang, Li-Dan
Tang, Han
Zhang, Lu-Lu
Cai, Jun
Chen, Yan-Xia
Yau, Shuehlin
Liu, Zhi-Feng
contents Electrochemical energy and substance conversion devices involve complex electrode processes, characterized by multiple charge transfer steps, competing pathways, and various intermediates. Such complexity makes it challenging to enhance electrocatalytic activity. The prevailing strategy typically focuses on optimizing the geometric and electronic structures of the electrocatalysts to align the adsorption energies of reaction intermediates with the peak of the activity Volcano curve. In this study, we demonstrate that surface decoration can effectively shape the micro reaction environment for the model system of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on Pt electrodes. By applying a partial hydrophobic I* adlayer on the Pt surface, we can shift the equilibrium of OH* reduction and weaken H2O* adsorption, which significantly enhances ORR kinetics. With in situ scan tunneling microscopy (STM) and theoretical calculations, our study reveals the formation of isolated Pt2 surface units situated in a hydrophobic valley surrounded by adsorbed iodine atoms. This minimalist Pt2 active unit exhibits significantly greater activity for ORR compared to an extended Pt surface. This strategy could pave the way for developing highly efficient catalysts with potential applications in fuel cell technology and metal air batteries and extension to other electrochemical conversion reactions such as ammonia synthesis and CO2 reduction.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_09357
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Enhancing Oxygen Reduction Reaction on Pt-Based Electrocatalysts through Surface Decoration for Improved OH Reduction Equilibrium and Reduced H2O Adsorption
Xu, Yu-Jun
Hsieh, Chiao-An
Zhang, Chen-Yu
Zhang, Li-Dan
Tang, Han
Zhang, Lu-Lu
Cai, Jun
Chen, Yan-Xia
Yau, Shuehlin
Liu, Zhi-Feng
Chemical Physics
Electrochemical energy and substance conversion devices involve complex electrode processes, characterized by multiple charge transfer steps, competing pathways, and various intermediates. Such complexity makes it challenging to enhance electrocatalytic activity. The prevailing strategy typically focuses on optimizing the geometric and electronic structures of the electrocatalysts to align the adsorption energies of reaction intermediates with the peak of the activity Volcano curve. In this study, we demonstrate that surface decoration can effectively shape the micro reaction environment for the model system of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on Pt electrodes. By applying a partial hydrophobic I* adlayer on the Pt surface, we can shift the equilibrium of OH* reduction and weaken H2O* adsorption, which significantly enhances ORR kinetics. With in situ scan tunneling microscopy (STM) and theoretical calculations, our study reveals the formation of isolated Pt2 surface units situated in a hydrophobic valley surrounded by adsorbed iodine atoms. This minimalist Pt2 active unit exhibits significantly greater activity for ORR compared to an extended Pt surface. This strategy could pave the way for developing highly efficient catalysts with potential applications in fuel cell technology and metal air batteries and extension to other electrochemical conversion reactions such as ammonia synthesis and CO2 reduction.
title Enhancing Oxygen Reduction Reaction on Pt-Based Electrocatalysts through Surface Decoration for Improved OH Reduction Equilibrium and Reduced H2O Adsorption
topic Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.09357