Mo₂CTz MXene outperforms carbon as a platinum support for alkaline hydrogen evolution
Abstract
Platinum (Pt) remains the benchmark catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), yet its performance in alkaline media is limited by sluggish water dissociation kinetics. Herein, we report a facile polyol synthesis of Pt nanoparticles supported on delaminated Mo₂CTz MXene labeled d-Mo2CTz and comparison is made with a reference Pt/carbon (C) catalyst at similar metal loadings. While structural analyses reveal comparable particle sizes, enabling isolation of support effects, XPS and electrochemical measurements evidence metal support interaction in Pt/d-Mo₂CTz, leading to modified hydrogen adsorption behavior. As a result, Pt/d-Mo₂CTz exhibits enhanced HER activity in alkaline media, requiring an overpotential as low as 48 mV at − 10 mA cm− 2 to be compared to 70 mV for Pt/C. This enhanced activity is attributed to two different phenomena: Pt ensures hydrogen recombination and the MXene support promotes water adsorption, activation, and hydroxide removal thanks to its hydrophilic/oxophilic properties. These findings highlight the active role of MXene supports in tuning Pt electrocatalysis properties and provide new design strategies for efficient alkaline electrolyzers.
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BibTeX
@article{fogiel2026mo₂ctz,
title = {{Mo₂CTz MXene outperforms carbon as a platinum support for alkaline hydrogen evolution}},
author = {Valentin Fogiel and Nora Benbakoura and Franck Koffi Bouho and Têko Napporn and Samuel Bernard and Cláudia Morais and Stéphane Célérier and Aurélien Habrioux},
journal = {Graphene and 2D Materials},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s41127-026-00115-6},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05834962v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mo₂CTz MXene outperforms carbon as a platinum support for alkaline hydrogen evolution
AU - Valentin Fogiel
AU - Nora Benbakoura
AU - Franck Koffi Bouho
AU - Têko Napporn
AU - Samuel Bernard
AU - Cláudia Morais
AU - Stéphane Célérier
AU - Aurélien Habrioux
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Graphene and 2D Materials
DO - 10.1007/s41127-026-00115-6
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05834962v1
AB - Platinum (Pt) remains the benchmark catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), yet its performance in alkaline media is limited by sluggish water dissociation kinetics. Herein, we report a facile polyol synthesis of Pt nanoparticles supported on delaminated Mo₂CTz MXene labeled d-Mo2CTz and comparison is made with a reference Pt/carbon (C) catalyst at similar metal loadings. While structural analyses reveal comparable particle sizes, enabling isolation of support effects, XPS and electrochemical measurements evidence metal support interaction in Pt/d-Mo₂CTz, leading to modified hydrogen adsorption behavior. As a result, Pt/d-Mo₂CTz exhibits enhanced HER activity in alkaline media, requiring an overpotential as low as 48 mV at − 10 mA cm− 2 to be compared to 70 mV for Pt/C. This enhanced activity is attributed to two different phenomena: Pt ensures hydrogen recombination and the MXene support promotes water adsorption, activation, and hydroxide removal thanks to its hydrophilic/oxophilic properties. These findings highlight the active role of MXene supports in tuning Pt electrocatalysis properties and provide new design strategies for efficient alkaline electrolyzers.
SN - 2731-6505
SN - 2731-6513
ER -