Single Atom-Modified Hybrid Transition Metal Carbides as Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Catalysts

2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) are promising hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts owing to their metallic conductivity, abundant surface active sites, and high specific surface area. The introduction of a single transition metal atom (TM) at the surface is a good way to improve the HER performance of MXenes. However, the effect of TM on MXenes in previous theoretical studies focused on pure functional groups, and ignored the hybrid-functionalized ones, which are mostly observed in experiments. Herein, the HER performance of four O/F ratios stable hybrids MXenes, Ti2CTx (T = -O, -F), is explored. Ti2CO1.33F0.67 exhibits superior HER catalytic activity, comparable to that of platinum metals. Further combinatorial screening of approximate to 200 TMs based on Ti2CTx structures suggests that Rh, Ti, Ir, and Pt are optimal TM candidates that enhance the sensitivity to strain modulation and reduce the activation barrier for hydrogen generation. A descriptor psi is used to quantify HER performance and reveals the role of the electron filling of TM to the antibonding orbitals. These findings propose feasible candidates with high HER performance through single-atom modification for hybrid-functional MXenes, and a useful descriptor to screen for MXenes with desirable catalytic properties.

Automated summary

The study explores the HER performance of stable hybrid MXenes with four O/F ratios, with Ti2CO1.33F0.67 showing superior catalytic activity comparable to platinum metals. Combinatorial screening further identifies Rh, Ti, Ir, and Pt as optimal TM candidates that enhance strain sensitivity and reduce activation energy for hydrogen generation. The use of a descriptor psi quantifies HER performance and reveals the role of TM electron filling in antibonding orbitals.