Issue 41, 2023

Realization of electron-deficient Ru sites via Co4N coupling for synergistically enhanced alkaline hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Ruthenium (Ru), benefitting from efficient water dissociation ability, is considered a good candidate for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER); however, the strong binding of H intermediates over Ru sites leads to a limited desorption behavior and thus an unsatisfactory HER activity. Here, we propose a strategy to fabricate a well-defined hetero-interface via anchoring Ru nanoparticles on Co4N nanorods grown on nickel foam (Ru/Co4N/NF). The as-prepared Ru/Co4N/NF catalyst is demonstrated to effectively catalyze water splitting into hydrogen in an alkaline electrolyte, with an overpotential of 145 mV to reach 100 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 25 mV dec−1, far surpassing bare Ru/NF and Co4N/NF. Experimental observations combined with computational simulations reveal that the charge migration from Ru to Co4N contributes to the formation of electron-deficient Ru sites and shifts the d-band center away from the Fermi level, which is conducive to hydrogen desorption. Meanwhile, the electron coupling effect between Ru and Co4N reduces the H2O adsorption energy and allows more electrons to participate in H2O molecule activation.

Graphical abstract: Realization of electron-deficient Ru sites via Co4N coupling for synergistically enhanced alkaline hydrogen evolution

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
10 août 2023
Accepted
02 oct. 2023
First published
02 oct. 2023

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023,11, 22147-22153

Realization of electron-deficient Ru sites via Co4N coupling for synergistically enhanced alkaline hydrogen evolution

M. Xing, X. Guo, W. Yuan, W. Chen, M. Du, L. Cai, V. Nicolosi, Y. Chai and B. Qiu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023, 11, 22147 DOI: 10.1039/D3TA04769E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements