Carbon-Extraction-Induced Biaxial Strain Tuning of Carbon-Intercalated Iridium Metallene for Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis

Metallene materials with atomic thicknesses are receiving increasing attention in electrocatalysis due to ultrahigh surface areas and distinctive surface strain. However, the continuous strain regulation of metallene remains a grand challenge. Herein, taking advantage of autocatalytic reduction of Cu2+ on biaxially strained, carbon-intercalated Ir metallene, we achieve control over the carbon extraction kinetics, enabling fine regulation of carbon intercalation concentration and continuous tuning of (111) in-plane (-2.0%-2.6%) and interplanar (3.5%-8.8%) strains over unprecedentedly wide ranges. Electrocatalysis measurements reveal the strain-dependent activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), where weakly strained Ir metallene (w-Ir metallene) with the smallest lattice constant presents the highest mass activity of 2.89 A mg(-1) (Ir) at -0.02 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Theoretical calculations validated the pivotal role of lattice compression in optimizing H binding on carbon-intercalated Ir metallene surfaces by downshifting the d-band center, further highlighting the significance of strain engineering for boosted electrocatalysis.