Tailored design of PdRh bimetallene nanoribbons by solvent-induced strategy for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution

Metallene with unusual physicochemical properties is a very promising class of two-dimensional electrocatalyst for efficient electrochemical hydrogen production. However, the controllable construction of metallene in the extension direction remains a great challenge. Herein, PdRh bimetallenes (PdRh BMs) and PdRh bimetallene nanoribbons (PdRh BNRs) were controllably prepared by solvent-induced strategy for efficient hydrogen evolution. The overpotential required for PdRh BNRs to reach 10 mA cm–2 at 1 M KOH is only 32 mV, which is better than PdRh BMs and Pd metallene nanoribbons. Aberration-corrected HRTEM revealed abundant defects on the surface of PdRh BNRs, which not only act as high active sites but also generate strong strain to significantly reduce the d-band center of Pd. This work provides guidance for the construction of high efficiency catalysts in metallene by applying defect engineering and strain engineering, and also provides a novel strategy for the controllable extension of metallene in longitudinal dimension.