Rhenium redefined as electrocatalyst: Hydrogen evolution efficiency boost via Pt and Ni doping

Rhenium metal-based catalysts are potential candidates to imperatively replace precious platinum catalysts for green hydrogen production via the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water electrolysis. Theoretically, the electrocatalytic HER activity of Re is comparable to that of the platinum group metals (PGMs). In addition, Re is more cost-effective than the noble PGMs. Herein, tiny amount of Pt- and Ni-doped Re nanoparticle clusters interconnected by amorphous carbon (Pt-Ni@Re/C NPCs) are successfully synthesized to improve the HER catalytic activity of Re metal. Pt-Ni@Re/C NPCs achieved phenomenally enhanced electrocatalytic HER performance in both acidic and alkaline media. Pt-Ni@Re/C NPCs exhibit a particularly superb performance in alkaline media regarding low overpotential, Tafel slope, and excellent stability, which is superior or comparable to that of Pt-based catalysts. Therefore, the newly designed Pt-Ni@Re/C NPCs is a promising candidate as a HER electrocatalyst to boost the developing industrial green hydrogen production system.