RuCoO_x Nanofoam as a High-Performance Trifunctional Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries and Water Splitting

Abstract

Designing high-performance trifunctional electrocatalysts for ORR/OER/HER with outstanding activity and stability for each reaction is quite significant yet challenging for renewable energy technologies. Herein, a highly efficient and durable trifunctional electrocatalyst RuCoO x is prepared by a unique one-pot glucose-blowing approach. Remarkably, RuCoO x catalyst exhibits a small potential difference (ΔE) of 0.65 V and low HER overpotential of 37 mV (10 mA cm −2 ), as well as a negligible decay of overpotential after 200 000/10 000/10 000 CV cycles for ORR/OER/HER, all of which show overwhelming superiorities among the advanced trifunctional electrocatalysts. When used in liquid rechargeable Zn−air batteries and water splitting electrolyzer, RuCoO x exhibits high efficiency and outstanding durability even at quite large current density. Such excellent performance can be attributed to the rational combination of targeted ORR/OER/HER active sites into one electrocatalyst based on the double-phase coupling strategy, which induces sufficient electronic structure modulation and synergistic effect for enhanced trifunctional properties.

3D Co3O4‐RuO2 Hollow Spheres with Abundant Interfaces as Advanced Trifunctional Electrocatalyst for Water‐Splitting and Flexible Zn–Air Battery

“…Relative to RuO 2 , the peaks shift to higher binding energy after the introduction of Co, demonstrating the electronic interactions between Co and Ru. [54][55][56] The XPS measurements of the reference samples are also studied, and a similar phenomenon is obtained (Figure S3, Supporting Information). [53,57] OER is a key half-reaction for water-splitting and the rechargeable Zn-air battery.…”

Efficient water oxidation using an Fe-doped nickel telluride–nickel phosphide electrocatalyst by partial phosphating

“…5 Although Ru-and Irbased electrocatalysts show excellent activities for the OER, the high cost and scarcity of these noble metals impede their widespread applications. 6,7 In this regard, it is important to develop earth-abundant transition-metal-based electrocatalysts with high activity and low cost for water oxidation. [8][9][10][11] Transitional metal chalcogenides (TMCs), especially transition metal suldes, have been widely investigated as potential electrocatalysts for the OER.…”

“…5 Although Ru- and Ir-based electrocatalysts show excellent activities for the OER, the high cost and scarcity of these noble metals impede their widespread applications. 6,7 In this regard, it is important to develop earth-abundant transition-metal-based electrocatalysts with high activity and low cost for water oxidation. 8–11…”

Electronic modulation of cobalt–molybdenum oxideviaTe doping embedded in a carbon matrix for superior overall water splitting

“…[5][6][7][8] However, the sluggish reaction kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as important half-reactions of water splitting can limit their practical operating efficiency. [9][10][11] At present, noble metal Pt and Ir/Ru-based electrocatalysts can significantly reduce the overpotentials of the HER and OER reactions, respectively. [12][13][14] But storage scarcity and poor durability greatly hamper their widespread application.…”