Ga–O–Pt Electronic Bridges Bypass Single‐Site Constraints for pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution

ABSTRACT Single‐site descriptors often fail to capture hydrogen evolution on heterometallic interfaces, where hydrogen adsorption, interfacial charge redistribution, and reaction kinetics are strongly modulated by potential and pH. Here, we engineer oxygen‐bridged Ga–O–Pt motifs, in which Ga–O moieties function as potential‐responsive charge‐buffering motifs that accommodate interfacial electron redistribution, while adjacent Pt ensembles mediate H * adsorption, migration, and recombination. Ga–O–Pt exhibits low overpotentials across 0.5 m H 2 SO 4 , 1.0 m KOH, and 1.0 m PBS ( η 10 = 7 mV in 0.5 m H 2 SO 4 , 19 mV in 1.0 m KOH, and 48 mV in 1.0 m PBS). Combined isotope‐sensitive kinetics and operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy support a Tafel‐recombination‐favored pathway in the acidic low‐overpotential region, enabled by rapid hydrogen redistribution rather than a proton‐coupled‐electron‐transfer‐limited step. In situ XAS further reveals potential‐dependent Pt/Ga electronic responses consistent with interfacial polarization across the Ga–O–Pt interface. Density functional theory supports electronically differentiated neighboring Pt sites, low‐barrier hydrogen migration, and a favorable Volmer–Tafel pathway on the representative Ga–O–Pt motif. Collectively, these results establish electronic‐bridge engineering as an effective strategy to transcend single‐site constraints and enable the rational design of pH‐universal HER catalysts under realistic electrochemical conditions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2026-09-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.78808
Primary Topic
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
Type
article
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article

Ga–O–Pt Electronic Bridges Bypass Single‐Site Constraints for pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution

Yuntong Sun, Shulai Lei, Rui Wang, Nicole L. D. Sui et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
article

Ga–O–Pt Electronic Bridges Bypass Single‐Site Constraints for pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution

Yuntong Sun, Shulai Lei, Rui Wang, Nicole L. D. Sui, Jong‐Min Lee, Jie Chen, Wenjun Fan, Jinbo Sun, Zitao Li
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Single‐site descriptors often fail to capture hydrogen evolution on heterometallic interfaces, where hydrogen adsorption, interfacial charge redistribution, and reaction kinetics are strongly modulated by potential and pH. Here, we engineer oxygen‐bridged Ga–O–Pt motifs, in which Ga–O moieties function as potential‐responsive charge‐buffering motifs that accommodate interfacial electron redistribution, while adjacent Pt ensembles mediate H * adsorption, migration, and recombination. Ga–O–Pt exhibits low overpotentials across 0.5 m H 2 SO 4 , 1.0 m KOH, and 1.0 m PBS ( η 10 = 7 mV in 0.5 m H 2 SO 4 , 19 mV in 1.0 m KOH, and 48 mV in 1.0 m PBS). Combined isotope‐sensitive kinetics and operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy support a Tafel‐recombination‐favored pathway in the acidic low‐overpotential region, enabled by rapid hydrogen redistribution rather than a proton‐coupled‐electron‐transfer‐limited step. In situ XAS further reveals potential‐dependent Pt/Ga electronic responses consistent with interfacial polarization across the Ga–O–Pt interface. Density functional theory supports electronically differentiated neighboring Pt sites, low‐barrier hydrogen migration, and a favorable Volmer–Tafel pathway on the representative Ga–O–Pt motif. Collectively, these results establish electronic‐bridge engineering as an effective strategy to transcend single‐site constraints and enable the rational design of pH‐universal HER catalysts under realistic electrochemical conditions.

Advanced Functional Materials
Nanyang Technological University (SG), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (CN), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (KR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), China University of Mining and Technology (CN), Hubei University of Arts and Science (CN), State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, University College London (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 31%
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
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