Rationally Designed PtNi/Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i> Bifunctional Electrocatalysts with Improved MOR and HER Performance Leveraged by Alloying and SMSI Effects

The development of efficient, cost-effective, and durable electrocatalysts remains a critical challenge in advancing energy technologies, particularly for applications such as fuel cells and water splitting. Among the numerous material synthesis approaches, leveraging the synergistic effects of alloying and strong metal–support interactions (SMSIs) has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance catalytic performance. In this work, synergy between PtNi alloy and Ti3C2Tx support has been explored to improve electrocatalytic performance toward the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Comprehensive structural and surface analyses using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) confirmed the electronic interactions in PtNi/Ti3C2Tx arising from the SMSI effect of Ti3C2Tx and the alloying of Pt and Ni. For the MOR, PtNi/Ti3C2Tx exhibited a significantly reduced onset potential of 0.42 V and high CO tolerance, while in the HER, the electrocatalyst achieved a lower overpotential (53 mV) and high mass activity compared to commercial Pt/C. The accelerated reaction kinetics underscore the transformative ability of PtNi/Ti3C2Tx to emerge as an advanced electrocatalyst, offering a promising solution for renewable energy applications and sustainable energy conversions.