The Pt-Ni Model System: Unraveling the Energetic Mechanism Driving Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

This study aims to provide fundamental insights into the bifunctional and H-M binding energy mechanisms of Pt-Ni with three different particle motifs (alloy, core-shell with Pt rich and Ni-segregated shell) to boost the HER activity in alkaline environment. We will follow the potential-dependent changes in oxidation state and atomic environment of Pt and Ni species for the three particle motifs before and during the HER in alkaline media probed by operando XAS technique in Ni K and Pt L3 edges. Linear combination fit (LCF) and multi-edge EXAFS analyses will be applied to correlate the oxidation state and atomic environment of Pt and Ni for these particle motifs with the HER activity in base