Asymmetrically strained hcp rhodium sublattice stabilized by 1D covalent boron chains as an efficient electrocatalyst

Abstract

Intermetallic rhodium boride (RhB) comprising an asymmetrically strained hcp Rh sublattice is synthesized. The covalent interaction of interstitial boron atoms is found to be the main contributor to the generation of asymmetric strains and the stabilization of the hcp Rh sublattice. In addition, RhB is identified as a hydrogen-evolving eletrocatalyst with Pt-like activity, because the Rh(d)–B(s,p) orbital hybridization induces an optimized electronic structure.