Self-assembled nanodendritic PdPtCu nanosheets/Ti2CTx–CNT electrocatalysts for low overpotential and long-term stable hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Reducing the overpotential and achieving long-term stability of electrocatalysts are vital for facilitating the catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, two-dimensional dendritic PdPtCu nanosheets were prepared and further immobilized on Ti₂CT_x–CNT heterostructures via a self-assembly process to gain superior activity for the HER. The morphology- and composition-optimized Pd₃₅Pt₁₉Cu₄₆/Ti₂CT_x–CNT exhibit the most promising performances in terms of an ultralow overpotential of 4 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² as well as the lowest Tafel slope of 18 mV dec⁻¹. Thanks to the unique synergistic effect between PdPtCu nanosheets and Ti₂CT_x–CNT heterostructures, the impressive long-term stability is also measured even after a 25 h chronoamperometric test.