Pt single‐atom catalysts on FTO for optically invisible pH‐universal hydrogen evolution electrodes

Abstract

Transparent hydrogen-evolution electrodes are essential for photoelectrochemical and optoelectronic energy-conversion devices, yet typically suffer from a trade-off between catalytic activity and optical transmission. Here, we demonstrate that an ultralow loading of Pt single atoms (SA, 0.03 at%) directly anchored on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) via a reactive deposition delivers hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics approaching bulk Pt, while remaining optically invisible. At this low SA loading, HAADF-STEM directly resolves atomically isolated Pt sites, while x-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy confirm exclusively cationic Pt δ+ (δ ≈ 2) in Pt-O 4 coordination. The Pt SA/FTO electrodes exhibit pH-universal HER activity, alongside turnover frequencies exceeding 500 s -1 at moderate overpotentials. Density Functional Theory calculations support the high stability of Pt SA/FTO and explain exceptional HER activity by optimized energetics of intermediate formation. Achieving comparable kinetics with conventional sputtered Pt films requires >1000-fold higher Pt loading and leads to substantial optical losses. Owing to its optical neutrality, the Pt SA/FTO electrode enables 2-3 × higher photocurrents than activity-matched Pt films when used as a counter electrode in sandwich-type photoelectrochemical cells. These results on Pt SA-decorated FTO thus describe a general strategy to unite noble-metal utilization, high catalytic efficiency, and optical transparency in electroand photoelectrochemical devices.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{kim2026singleatom,
  title = {{Pt single‐atom catalysts on FTO for optically invisible pH‐universal hydrogen evolution electrodes}},
  author = {Jihyeon Kim and Xin Zhou and Dmitry E Doronkin and Bidyut Bikash Sarma and Ana S Dobrota and Natalia V Skorodumova and Igor A Pašti and Jochen Schmidt and Patrik Schmuki},
  journal = {Advanced Energy Materials},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1002/aenm.71493},
  url = {https://hal.science/hal-05756924v1},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Pt single‐atom catalysts on FTO for optically invisible pH‐universal hydrogen evolution electrodes
AU  - Jihyeon Kim
AU  - Xin Zhou
AU  - Dmitry E Doronkin
AU  - Bidyut Bikash Sarma
AU  - Ana S Dobrota
AU  - Natalia V Skorodumova
AU  - Igor A Pašti
AU  - Jochen Schmidt
AU  - Patrik Schmuki
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/24
JO  - Advanced Energy Materials
DO  - 10.1002/aenm.71493
UR  - https://hal.science/hal-05756924v1
AB  - Transparent hydrogen-evolution electrodes are essential for photoelectrochemical and optoelectronic energy-conversion devices, yet typically suffer from a trade-off between catalytic activity and optical transmission. Here, we demonstrate that an ultralow loading of Pt single atoms (SA, 0.03 at%) directly anchored on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) via a reactive deposition delivers hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics approaching bulk Pt, while remaining optically invisible. At this low SA loading, HAADF-STEM directly resolves atomically isolated Pt sites, while x-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy confirm exclusively cationic Pt δ+ (δ ≈ 2) in Pt-O 4 coordination. The Pt SA/FTO electrodes exhibit pH-universal HER activity, alongside turnover frequencies exceeding 500 s -1 at moderate overpotentials. Density Functional Theory calculations support the high stability of Pt SA/FTO and explain exceptional HER activity by optimized energetics of intermediate formation. Achieving comparable kinetics with conventional sputtered Pt films requires >1000-fold higher Pt loading and leads to substantial optical losses. Owing to its optical neutrality, the Pt SA/FTO electrode enables 2-3 × higher photocurrents than activity-matched Pt films when used as a counter electrode in sandwich-type photoelectrochemical cells. These results on Pt SA-decorated FTO thus describe a general strategy to unite noble-metal utilization, high catalytic efficiency, and optical transparency in electroand photoelectrochemical devices.
SN  - 1614-6832
SN  - 1614-6840
ER  -

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