Activating Amorphous Ru Metallenes Through Co Integration for Enhanced Water Electrolysis

Abstract

Designing efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts with excellent activity and robust stability presents a central challenge for the large‐scale commercialization of water electrolysis. Herein, a facile approach is reported for the construct of atomically thin amorphous RuM (MCo, Fe, or Ni) bimetallenes as high‐performance electrocatalysts toward both electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The RuCo bimetallene manifests excellent bifunctional activity characterized by low required overpotentials, superior price activity, robust electrochemical durability as well as a low cell potential water splitting performance, outperforming Pt/C and RuO2 benchmark catalysts. Combined operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy investigation and theoretical simulations reveal the synergism taking place between binary constituents, in which Co serves a promotive role along the HER/OER reaction pathway, contributing via optimal binding to *OH for facile water dissociation as well as modulating the Ru electronic structure favorably, hence rendering high activity catalytic centers for both the alkaline HER and OER.

Manipulation of Electron Spins with Oxygen Vacancy on Amorphous/Crystalline Composite-Type Catalyst

“…This could be due to the combinatory effect of the amorphous structure, atomically thin thickness, and partial oxidation state. 29,30,42 O 1s XPS spectra of a-RuO 2 /NiO are depicted in Figure 2c, in which three deconvoluted peaks centered at 528.94, 529.40, and 530.94 eV are observed, which are related to metal− oxygen (M−O) bonds, O vacancy, and absorbed O, respectively. 43,44 As predicted, the peaks of the O vacancy in the a-RuO 2 /NiO center at 529.40 eV are substantially stronger compared to that of NiO, informing that the a-RuO 2 /NiO has more oxygen vacancies than NiO.…”

Honeycomb-like hollow carbon loaded with ruthenium nanoparticles as high-performance HER electrocatalysts

“…The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the important semi-reactions, usually requiring highly active catalysts to reduce reaction energy barriers, improve reaction activity, and reduce energy loss. 5–7 Currently, the best HER catalyst is Pt/C, but it has important drawbacks such as high price and scarce reserves. In recent years, low-platinum and non-platinum catalysts have attracted widespread attention, and many new catalysts have also been developed.…”

Orange-peel derived carbon-loaded low content ruthenium nanoparticles as ultra-high performance alkaline water HER electrocatalysts

“…The slow dynamic mechanical performance restricts the overall performance of a device for water-splitting, so it needs highly active electrocatalysts. [5][6][7][8][9][10] At present, Pt-based precious metal catalysts are mainly used for the hydrogen evolution reactions, but the limited reserves and high prices of precious metals limit their largescale application. [11][12][13] In recent years, people have done a lot of work on non-noble metal catalysts, and many new and efficient electrocatalysts have also been successfully developed, such as transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, transition metal carbides, and carbon-doped materials.…”

“…The slow dynamic mechanical performance restricts the overall performance of a device for water-splitting, so it needs highly active electrocatalysts. 5–10…”