Formation of Branched Ruthenium Nanoparticles for Improved Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Branched nanoparticles are one of the most promising nanoparticle catalysts as their branch sizes and surfaces can be tuned to enable both high activity and stability. Understanding how the crystallinity and surface facets of branched nanoparticles affect their catalytic performance is vital for further catalyst development. In this work, a synthesis is developed to form highly branched ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles with control of crystallinity. It is shown that faceted Ru branched nanoparticles have improved stability and activity in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) compared with polycrystalline Ru nanoparticles. This work achieves a low 180 mV overpotential at 10 mA cm−2 for hours, demonstrating that record‐high stability for Ru nanocrystals can be achieved while retaining high activity for OER. The superior electrocatalytic performance of faceted Ru branched nanoparticles is ascribed to the lower Ru dissolution rate under OER conditions due to low‐index facets on the branch surfaces.

Faceted Branched Nickel Nanoparticles with Tunable Branch Length for High‐Activity Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Biomass

“…The synthesis also needs to control branch length to enable high exposure of specific active facets . This is vital because well‐defined faceting determines the active sites available for catalysis, as has shown to be crucial for branched nanoparticle catalysts …”

“…[9][10][11] This is vital because well-defined faceting determines the active sites available for catalysis, as has shown to be crucial for branched nanoparticle catalysts. [1,2,12] Recently, 3D Ni foams with high surface areas have become widely used as high-performing substrates for a range of electrocatalytic reactions, [13] including the electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). [14,15] Previous studies have shown high selectivity and high stability of HMF oxidation using 3D porous Ni foam.…”

Facettierte verzweigte Nickel‐Nanopartikel mit variierbarer Verzweigungslänge für die hochaktive elektrokatalytische Oxidation von Biomasse

“…Die Synthese muss auch die Zweiglänge kontrollieren, um eine hohe Exposition spezifischer aktiver Facetten zu ermöglichen . Dies ist von entscheidender Bedeutung, da eine definierte Facettierung die für die Katalyse verfügbaren aktiven Zentren bestimmt, was, wie sich gezeigt hat, für verzweigte Nanopartikel‐Katalysatoren wesentlich ist …”

“…[9][10][11] Dies ist von entscheidender Bedeutung, da eine definierte Facettierung die für die Katalyse verfügbaren aktiven Zentren bestimmt, was, wie sich gezeigt hat, für verzweigte Nanopartikel-Katalysatoren wesentlich ist. [1,2,12] In letzter Zeit sind 3D-Ni-Schäume mit großen Oberflächen als Hochleistungssubstrate für eine Reihe von elektrokatalytischen Reaktionen weit verbreitet, [13] einschließlich der elektrokatalytischen Oxidation von 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). [14,15] Frühere Studien haben eine hohe Selektivität und hohe Stabilität der HMF-Oxidation unter Verwendung von porçsem 3D-Ni-Schaum gezeigt.…”

Increasing the Formation of Active Sites on Highly Crystalline Co Branched Nanoparticles for Improved Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysis

“…Controlling metal oxide formation during oxidation reactions affects the electrocatalytic performance . The surface structure of the oxide influences the catalytic activity, by changing the electronic properties and the density of active sites present at the surface . The nature of the Co surface oxide will affect its electrochemical transformation into the Co(OOH) active phase and subsequent formation of Co 4+ active sites under OER conditions .…”