High‐Performance Hydrogen Evolution by Ru Single Atoms and Nitrided‐Ru Nanoparticles Implanted on N‐Doped Graphitic Sheet

By J. Tiwari, A. M. Harzandi, Miran Ha, Siraj Sultan, C. Myung, H. Park, Dong Yeon Kim, P. Thangavel, A. Singh, Pankaj Sharma and 6 more. Advanced Energy Materials, 2019

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The most efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a Pt‐based catalyst, but its high cost and nonperfect efficiency hinder wide‐ranging industrial/technological applications. Here, an electrocatalyst of both ruthenium (Ru) single atoms (SAs) and N‐doped‐graphitic(GN)‐shell‐covered nitrided‐Ru nanoparticles (NPs) (having a Ru‐Nx shell) embedded on melamine‐derived GN matrix {1: [Ru(SA)+Ru(NP)@RuNx@GN]/GN}, which exhibits superior HER activity in both acidic and basic media, is presented. In 0.5 m H2SO4/1 m KOH solutions, 1 shows diminutive “negative overpotentials” (−η = |η| = 10/7 mV at 10 mA cm−2, lowest ever) and high exchange current densities (4.70/1.96 mA cm−2). The remarkable HER performance is attributed to the near‐zero free energies for hydrogen adsorption/desorption on Ru(SAs) and the increased conductivity of melamine‐derived GN sheets by the presence of nitrided‐Ru(NPs). The nitridation process forming nitrided‐Ru(NPs), which are imperfectly covered by a GN shell, allows superb long‐term operation durability. The catalyst splits water into molecular oxygen and hydrogen at 1.50/1.40 V (in 0.1 m HClO4/1 m KOH), demonstrating its potential as a ready‐to‐use, highly effective energy device for industrial applications.

Subfields: Organic Chemistry, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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