Two-dimensional (2D) catalysts often show extraordinary activity at low mass loading since almost all their atoms are exposed to electrolyte. Palladium (Pd) holds great promise for catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) but 2D Pd-based ORR catalyst has rarely been reported. Herein, 2D ternary palladium phosphoronitride (Pd3P2Nx) is synthesized, for the first time, for ORR catalysis. The synthesis is guided by a rational design using first-principles density functional theory calculations, and then realized via a postsynthesis substitutional doping of ternary palladium thiophosphate (Pd3P2S8), which almost completely replaces sulfur atoms by nitrogen atoms without destroying the 2D morphology. The doping process exposes the interlocked Pd atoms of Pd3P2S8 and introduces ligands that improve the affinity of oxygen intermediates, resulting in greater kinetics and lower activation energy for ORR. The mass activity of the pristine Pd3P2S8 is dramatically increased as much as 5-fold (from 0.03 to 0.151 mA μg-1 Pd in Pd3P2Nx). The ORR diffusion-limited current density of Pd3P2Nx (6.2 mA cm-2) exceeds that of commercial Pt/C, and it shows fast kinetics and robust long-term stability. Our theoretical calculations not only guide the experimental doping process, but also provides insights into the underlying mechanism of the outstanding ORR activity and stability.
Keywords: DFT rational design; oxygen reduction reaction (ORR); palladium thiophosphate; substitutional nitrogen doping; ternary palladium phosphoronitride; two-dimensional catalyst.