Interstitial C/N Doping Stabilizes Pd@Pt Core–Shell Electrocatalysts by Atomic‐Scale Interfacial Anchoring and Metal Dissolution Suppression
ABSTRACT Platinum (Pt)‐based multimetallic catalysts, including alloys and core–shell architectures, have attracted widespread attention due to their ability to optimize catalytic activity and minimize the use of precious metals. However, their structural instability under harsh electrochemical conditions, such as acidic media and high potentials, hinders commercialization. Here, using well‐defined Pd@Pt core–shell nanocrystals as a model system and combining online dissolution analysis (SFC‐ICP‐MS), identical‐location STEM, operando x‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and DFT calculations, we identified a pinhole‐mediated dissolution mechanism. Specifically, Pd dissolution at pinhole defects disrupts the local interfacial structure, subsequently destabilizing neighboring Pt and leading to irreversible reconstruction of the core–shell architecture, ultimately resulting in shell collapse. We further demonstrated that interstitial C/N doping at the Pd–Pt interface near pinholes could induce atomic‐scale interfacial anchoring through strong p–d hybridization, thereby significantly increasing the kinetic barrier for metal leaching. Consequently, compared to the undoped sample, the C/N‐doped core–shell catalyst maintained structural integrity at potentials up to 1.50 V (vs RHE), and the dissolution of Pt and Pd was reduced by 48.5 and 13.9 times, respectively. This defect‐targeted strengthening strategy, applicable to Pd–Au and Pd–Ag systems, establishes a general principle for stabilizing multimetallic heterointerfaces and developing durable, low‐Pt electrocatalysts.
Authors
- Xia‐Guang Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9223-0852)
- Xianmeng Song
- Yue Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0098-5359)
- Changwei Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5685-2403)
- Jiexin Chen
- Zhiyou Zhou
- Wanfeng Xiong
- Yanyan Jia
- Zhaoxiong Xie
- Sheng Dai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5787-0179)
- Feng Ru Fan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6474-471X)
- Wei Tu
Institutions
- East China University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Xiamen University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Yanshan University (CN)
- Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter (CN)
- Henan Normal University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie
- Published
- 2026-05-31
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.3844758
- Primary Topic
- Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- National Key Research and Development Program of China