Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction with Bulk and Nanostructured Mitrofanovite Pt3Te4

Abstract

Here, we discuss the key features of electrocatalysis with mitrofanovite (Pt3Te4), a recently discovered mineral with superb performances in hydrogen evolution reaction. Mitrofanovite is a layered topological metal with spin-polarized topological surface states with potential applications for spintronics. However, mitrofanovite is also an exceptional platform for electrocatalysis, with costs of the electrodes suppressed by 47% owing to the partial replacement of Pt with Te. Remarkably, the Tafel slope in nanostructured mitrofanovite is just 33 mV/dec, while reduced mitrofanovite has the same Tafel slope (36 mV/dec) as state-of-the-art electrodes of pure Pt. Mitrofanovite also affords surface stability and robustness to CO poisoning. Accordingly, these findings pave the way for the advent of mitrofanovite for large-scale hydrogen production.

Sustainable Hydrogen Production Using Group‐10 Metal Chalcogenides as Low‐Cost Effective Electrocatalysts

“…Interestingly, the PtTe 2 /Pt 2 Te 2 heterostructure naturally existing in mitrofanovite (Pt 3 Te 4 ), a recently discovered mineral present in the Kola Peninsula (Russia) [ 20 ] and in various areas of the Canadian Shield, [ 37 ] represents a suitable candidate for clean hydrogen production. [ 21,38 ] In acidic environment, a Tafel slope in HER as low as ≈32 mV dec −1 was revealed (Figure 5a,b). Even for oxidized mitrofanovite, the Tafel slope remains lower than in other Pt‐based dichalcogenides, with a value comparable to those of Pt (36 mV dec −1 ) and Pt/C (30 mV dec −1 ), [ 36,39 ] also affording the notable advantage of costs reduced by 47%, due to the partial replacement of Pt atoms with Earth‐abundant Te atoms.…”

“…Even for oxidized mitrofanovite, the Tafel slope remains lower than in other Pt‐based dichalcogenides, with a value comparable to those of Pt (36 mV dec −1 ) and Pt/C (30 mV dec −1 ), [ 36,39 ] also affording the notable advantage of costs reduced by 47%, due to the partial replacement of Pt atoms with Earth‐abundant Te atoms. Furthermore, unlike other transition‐metal dichalcogenides highly effective for HER but with low current densities ranging between 10 and 100 mA cm −2 , Pt 3 Te 4 ‐based electrodes exhibit an overall current density that exceeds 1000 mA cm −2 , [ 38a ] thus possibly allowing the production of hydrogen on a large scale. [ 40 ]…”

Observation of highly anisotropic bulk dispersion and spin-polarized topological surface states in CoTe2

“…The broad class of layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) has attracted significant attention in the last decades due to their novel electronic, optical, and topological properties, combined with their potential for various applications [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] . Owing to the weak interlayer van der Waals interaction, TMDs offer easy exfoliation of isolated monolayers which host different physical properties from their bulk counterpart.…”

Emerging Two-Dimensional Materials: Inspiring Nanotechnologies for Smart Energy Management

“…For the experimental investigation of the electrochemical properties of materials, we can read a meticulous in-depth analysis of the novel Pt3Te4 material in the form of nanostructured mitrofanovite [8], and we can also read a report on a detailed investigation of the behavior of lithium at bilayer-patched graphene on SiC [9]. Finally, for the thermal management of devices, a contribution was devoted to the measurement of the interface thermal resistance of black phosphorus on top of a gold substrate using Raman spectroscopy [10].…”