Abstract
Electrocatalysts in alkaline electrocatalytic water splitting are required to efficiently produce hydrogen while posing a challenge to show excellent performances. Herein, we have successfully synthesized platinum nanoparticles incorporated in a Co(3)O(4) nanostructure (denoted as Pt-Co(3)O(4)) that show superior HER activity and stability in alkaline solutions (the overpotentials of 37 mV to reach 10 mA cm(-2)). The outstanding electrocatalytic activity originates from synergistic effects between Pt and Co(3)O(4) and increased electron conduction. Theoretical calculations show a significant decrease in the ΔG(H*) of Co active sites and a remarkable increase in electron transport. Our work puts forward a special and simple synthesized way of adjusting the H* adsorption energy of an inert site for application in HER.