Anchored RuSe2 nanospheres on Co–N–C nanosheets boost electrocatalytic alkaline hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Ru-based catalysts are potential substitutes for Pt in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). It is worth noting that the Se ions in RuSe₂ can modulate the electronic structure of the Ru metal, thus effectively improving the HER kinetics of RuSe₂. However, single electronic structure modulation is hard to complete due to the electron deficiency of active Ru atoms. Herein, we prepare and design a novel RuSe₂/Co–N–C (RuSe₂ nanospheres supported on Co–N–C nanosheets) electrocatalyst with two-electron modulation by a hydrothermal and thermal annealing method. Benefiting from the uniform distribution of RuSe₂ nanospheres on Co–N–C nanosheets and Co–N–C nanosheets acting as additional electron donors to make up for the electron deficiency of the Ru metal, RuSe₂/Co–N–C exhibits excellent HER performance with a low overpotential of 26.4 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a low Tafel slope of 53.2 mV dec⁻¹. This work offers an effective method for the synthesis of high catalytic performance electrocatalysts by constructing an interaction between the carrier and the active metal.