Issue 26, 2025

Engineering Ru nanoparticle size and metal–support interactions for enhanced catalytic hydrogen combustion

Abstract

Catalytic hydrogen combustion (CHC) plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety and efficiency of fuel cells and electrolysers, thereby promoting the H2 economy. To increase the catalytic activity of supported metal particles for CHC, the active surface area can be increased through Ru fine dispersion, and intrinsic activity can be enhanced by optimising metal–support interactions (MSIs). In this study, we report the synthesis and CHC performance of highly dispersed Ru sub-nanoparticles on a γAl2O3 support with various Ru loadings. A clear correlation between Ru loading and CHC mass activity was identified. The highest mass activity is achieved at 1 wt% Ru, with a yield of 5.7 mmolH2 mol−1Ru s−1 at 80 °C. Lower Ru loadings lead to a strong MSI and subsequently to a lower Ru0/Ru–O ratio. Further, higher Ru loadings decrease metal dispersion, reducing CHC activity. Operando diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed the role of OH groups as key intermediates in the CHC mechanism over the Ru-γAl2O3 catalyst. Our findings highlight the impact of Ru nanoparticle size engineering on CHC mass activity and provide mechanistic insights and design principles for the development of highly active Ru catalysts, showing a way forward to achieve safer, integrated and efficient CHC utilisation.

Graphical abstract: Engineering Ru nanoparticle size and metal–support interactions for enhanced catalytic hydrogen combustion

Supplementary files

Transparent peer review

To support increased transparency, we offer authors the option to publish the peer review history alongside their article.

View this article’s peer review history

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Apr 2025
Accepted
27 May 2025
First published
02 Jun 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025,13, 20372-20382

Engineering Ru nanoparticle size and metal–support interactions for enhanced catalytic hydrogen combustion

Z. Akbari, M. R. Alizadeh Kiapi, T. H. My Pham, L. Lombardo, D. Fairen-Jimenez and A. Zuttel, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, 13, 20372 DOI: 10.1039/D5TA03057A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements