"Pong ball structure" catalyst greatly reduces hydrogen production cost of electrolyzed water

"Pong ball structure" catalyst greatly reduces hydrogen production cost of electrolyzed water

Recently, it was learned from the University of Science and Technology of China that Professor Song Li and Professor Jiang Jun cooperated in the study of hydrogen production in electrolyzed water, using the best catalytic platinum metal to skillfully design the“pong ball structure”catalyst around the tip. Compared with commercial platinum carbon catalysts, the amount of platinum metal is only one-seventh of the original, which greatly reduces the cost of the catalyst. Related results were published online today in Nature and Energy.

The catalytic process of conventional catalysts generally occurs on the surface of the catalyst, and several atoms participating in the reaction are single or adjacent. The platinum atoms in the surface of the traditional platinum catalyst are so busy that the inner platinum atoms can only do nothing. How do you let the platinum atoms in the catalyst not eat big pots, and each one moves?

The research team selected the spherical shape with the largest surface per unit mass, and made the previously flat catalyst into a single "ball", transforming the reaction previously confined to the two-dimensional plane into a three-dimensional reaction. At the same time, each platinum atom is located on a spherical surface, ensuring that they are all "production line." The catalyst thus forms a "ball" with a tip that is full of needles. Each tip is a monoatomic platinum. No "human" can "hide" behind it. Professor Jiang Jun said: "This design also brings a surprise additional effect. Theoretical simulations show that the curved spherical surface will form a very strong local electric field at the tip platinum atom, which is equivalent to adding an accelerating crawler to the platinum atomic foot. , can further enhance the catalytic efficiency."

The final test results show that the rate of hydrogen formation is greatly increased when the reactants in the electrolytic solution pass through the "pong ball" of the surface of the needle.