By means of electrocatalytic tests, surface-science techniques and density functional theory, we unveil the physicochemical mechanisms ruling the electrocatalytic activity of recently discovered mitrofanovite (Pt3Te4) mineral. Mitrofanovite represents a very promising electrocatalyst candidate for energy-related applications, with a reduction of costs by 47% compared to pure Pt and superior robustness to CO poisoning. We show that Pt3Te4 is a weak topological metal with the Z2 invariant, exhibiting electrical conductivity (∼4 × 106 S/m) comparable with pure Pt. In hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the electrode based on bulk Pt3Te4 shows a very small overpotential of 46 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 36-49 mV dec-1 associated with the Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism. The outstanding ambient stability of Pt3Te4 also provides durability of the electrode and long-term stability of its efficient catalytic performances.

Charles University 5 Holesovickǎch 2 Prague 8 18000 Prague Czechia

CNR IMM Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi 8 strada 5 1 95121 Catania Italy

CNR IOM TASC Laboratory Area Science Park Basovizza 34139 Trieste Italy

College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Qingdao University Qingdao 266071 Shandong P R China

College of Science Institute of Materials Physics and Chemistry Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing 210037 P R China

Department of Physics and Institure of Nanotechnology Bar Ilan University Ramat Gan 52900 Israel

Department of Physics Graduate Institute of Applied Physics National Taiwan University Taipei 10617 Taiwan

Department of Physics Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur Kanpur 208016 India

Department of Physics National Cheng Kung University 1 Ta Hsueh Road 70101 Tainan Taiwan

Faculty of Engineering and Institute of Nanotechnology Bar Ilan University Ramat Gan 52900 Israel

INSTM and Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences University of L'Aquila via Vetoio 67100 L'Aquila Italy

Jülich Aachen Research Alliance Fundamentals of Future Information Technology 52425 Jülich Germany

Peter Grünberg Institut Forschungszentrum Jülich 52425 Jülich Germany

Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics Department Ural Federal University Mira Street 19 620002 Ekaterinburg Russia

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