3D hydroxylated Ti3C2Tx MXene nanonet architecture supported Pt catalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution

Ti3C2Tx MXene nanonets (MNNs) with 3D fibrous architecture were obtained from Ti3C2Tx MXene nanoplates (MNPs) via surface modifying of alkalization in concentrated KOH solution, which was further combined with carbon nanotube and used as catalyst supports for Pt nanoparticles. By controlling the treatment time of alkalization, the lamellar surface of MNPs was getting into fibration in different extent. The catalytic performances toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of a series of Pt-loaded MNNs catalysts were investigated, in which 1 %Pt-MNNs-9 composite catalyst presented the best hydrogen evolution performance. In detail, 1 %Pt-MNNs-9 with 1 wt.% of Pt loading exhibits an overpotential of 60 mV at 10 mA·cm−2, which is much lower than 1 % Pt-MNPs (274 mV). It also keeps stable performance for long term stability. The enhanced catalytic activity is probably due to the fact that, Ti3C2Tx MNNs with 3D architecture not only possesses abundant sites to anchor Pt nanoaprticles, but also facilitates the mass and charge transfer, which are significantly beneficial to catalytic reaction. The 3D architecture MXene fibers are expected to have widespread applications including but not limited to energy storage/conversion, and catalytic fields.