Free-Standing Two-Dimensional Ru Nanosheets with High Activity toward Water Splitting

Abstract

The preparation of ultrathin ruthenium metal nanosheets is important because these materials have unique properties originated from the unique two-dimensional (2D) structure, and yet, it remains a synthetic challenge. Herein, we report the synthesis of free-standing 2D Ru nanosheets using a facile solvothermal method, in which Ru(III) is reduced via self-decomposition of the metal precursor and grows into ultrathin nanosheets with the aid of isopropanol and urea. The 2D Ru nanosheets and their 2D oxide derivative exhibit excellent hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction activities, respectively. They show much enhanced properties compared with their Ru powder counterparts and the commercial Pt in electrolytic water splitting.

Ruthenium-cobalt nanoalloys encapsulated in nitrogen-doped graphene as active electrocatalysts for producing hydrogen in alkaline media

“…In particular, ruthenium (42 $ per oz) is more economically advantageous in price than the rest of Pt-group metals, such as Pt (992 $ per oz), Pd (551 $ per oz), Ir (500 $ per oz) and so on28. As a matter of fact, Ru has evoked special attention as a top oxygen evolution electrocatalytic material29.…”

Flexible Honeycombed Nanoporous/Glassy Hybrid for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

“…[41,42] In what follows, ΔG H* of the three models, Pt 75 Ni 25 , pure Ni, and pure Pt, was calculated. To further clarify this point, density functional theory calculations were carried out.…”

Flexible Co–Mo–N/Au Electrodes with a Hierarchical Nanoporous Architecture as Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

“…The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a crucial step in many important energy conversion technologies, including hydrogen production via electrochemical water splitting, regenerative fuel cells, and rechargeable metal–air batteries, which hold great promise in large‐scale storage of plentiful but only intermittently available renewable solar and wind sources . Because of intrinsically sluggish reaction kinetics of the OER and insufficient activity of state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalysts, these renewable energy conversion devices are persistently plagued by low operating efficiency in their practical implementations. This dilemma urgently calls for developing highly efficient electrocatalysts to boost the OER kinetics.…”