Extreme Environmental Thermal Shock Induced Dislocation-Rich Pt Nanoparticles Boosting Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Crystal structure engineering of nanomaterials is crucial for the design of electrocatalysts. Inducing dislocations is an efficient approach to generate strain effects in nanomaterials to optimize the crystal and electronic structures and improve the catalytic properties. However, it is almost impossible to produce and retain dislocations in commercial mainstream catalysts, such as single metal platinum (Pt) catalysts. In this work, a non-equilibrium high-temperature (>1400 K) thermal-shock method is reported to induce rich dislocations in Pt nanocrystals (Dr-Pt). The method is performed in an extreme environment (approximate to 77 K) created by liquid nitrogen. The dislocations induced within milliseconds by thermal and structural stress during the crystallization process are kinetically frozen at an ultrafast cooling rate. The high-energy surface structures with dislocation-induced strain effects can prevent surface restructuring during catalysis. The findings indicate that a novel extreme environmental high-temperature thermal-shock method can successfully introduce rich dislocations in Pt nanoparticles and significantly boost its hydrogen evolution reaction performance.

Automated summary

A non-equilibrium high-temperature thermal-shock method was utilized to induce rich dislocations in Pt nanocrystals, enhancing their catalytic performance. The extreme environmental conditions and ultrafast cooling rate allow for the kinetic freezing of dislocations induced during the crystallization process. This approach presents a novel way to optimize the crystal and electronic structures of nanomaterials for improved catalytic properties.