Synergistic effect in ultrafine PtNiP nanowires for highly efficient electrochemical hydrogen evolution in alkaline electrolyte

Platinum-based catalysts play an important role in electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction, which is a renewable and clean way to produce H₂. Herein, we have successfully synthesized the ultrafine PtNiP NWs with diameter less than 5 nm via a simple two-step hydrothermal reaction method. Impressively, the PtNiP NWs exhibit one of the best electrocatalytic activity toward HER under alkaline conditions, which can reach current density of 500 mA cm⁻² only at the −0.153 V vs RHE with Tafel slop of only 30 mV dec⁻¹. The DFT calculation results show synergistic effect of Pt, Ni and P atoms, where Ni atoms are conducive to the adsorption of H₂O and P atoms are helpful for the dissociation of H₂O, significantly improving kinetic processes of hydrogen evolution reaction. This work could be instructive and meaningful to design highly efficient and stable HER catalyst in alkaline condition for practical applications.