Engineering of Ru/Ru2P interfaces superior to Pt active sites for catalysis of the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Large-scale hydrogen production from industrial electrolysis technology is challenged by sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics under alkaline conditions, even with Pt as catalyst. In consideration of the synergistic effects of Ru on water dissociation and Ru₂P on proton reduction, Ru/Ru₂P interfaces were engineered in situ via a high-pressure phosphorization strategy with phosphine as both a phosphorus source and reactant. The Ru/Ru₂P-loaded P-doped carbon (Ru–Ru₂P/PC) catalyst therefore exhibited superior alkaline HER activity compared to the Pt catalyst. The overpotential of the Ru–Ru₂P catalyst to drive a 50 mA cm⁻² alkaline HER was reduced by 65 mV compared to the Pt/C catalyst, and the loading of noble metal was much lower. Thus, the mass activity was doubled. With its great stability under alkaline conditions, the easily synthesized Ru–Ru₂P catalyst shows promising application potential in industrial electrolysis systems.