Cited by 213Electrocatalysts for Energy ConversionHydrogen Storage and MaterialsCO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts

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Optimizing Hydrogen Binding on Ru Sites with RuCo Alloy Nanosheets for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution

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Abstract

Ruthenium (Ru)‐based catalysts, with considerable performance and desirable cost, are becoming highly interesting candidates to replace platinum (Pt) in the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The hydrogen binding at Ru sites (Ru−H) is an important factor limiting the HER activity. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) simulations show that the essence of Ru−H binding energy is the strong interaction between the orbital of Ru and the 1s orbital of H. The charge transfer between Ru sites and substrates (Co and Ni) causes the appropriate downward shift of the ‐band center of Ru, which results in a Gibbs free energy of 0.022 eV for H* in the RuCo system, much lower than the 0.133 eV in the pure Ru system. This theoretical prediction has been experimentally confirmed using RuCo alloy‐nanosheets (RuCo ANSs). They were prepared via a fast co‐precipitation method followed with a mild electrochemical reduction. Structure characterizations reveal that the Ru atoms are embedded into the Co substrate as isolated active sites with a planar symmetric and Z‐direction asymmetric coordination structure, obtaining an optimal modulated electronic structure. Hydrogen sensor and temperature program desorption (TPD) tests demonstrate the enhanced Ru−H interactions in RuCo ANSs compared to those in pure Ru nanoparticles. As a result, the RuCo ANSs reach an ultra‐low overpotential of 10 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and a Tafel slope of 20.6 mV dec −1 in 1 M KOH, outperforming that of the commercial Pt/C. This holistic work provides a new insight to promote alkaline HER by optimizing the metal‐H binding energy of active sites.

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Crossref · 10.1002/anie.202113664

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Figures

Figure 1 Theoretical calculation results. a) The PDOS of Ru 4d orbitals before and after H* adsorption. The inset shows the schematic diagram of orbital coupling between Ru 4dz2 and H 1s. b) The Ru−H bond lengths and electron numbers of Ru 4dz2 in Ru, RuCo and RuNi models. The inset shows the RuCo model planar symmetric and Z‐direction asymmetric coordination structure. c) The band center positions of Ru 4dz2 in Ru, RuCo and RuNi models. d) The H* Gibbs free energy for Ru, RuCo and RuNi models. The dotted line corresponds to a Gibbs free energy equal to zero.
Figure 1 Theoretical calculation results. a) The PDOS of Ru 4d orbitals before and after H* adsorption. The inset shows the schematic diagram of orbital coupling between Ru 4dz2 and H 1s. b) The Ru−H bond lengths and electron numbers of Ru 4dz2 in Ru, RuCo and RuNi models. The inset shows the RuCo model planar symmetric and Z‐direction asymmetric coordination structure. c) The band center positions of Ru 4dz2 in Ru, RuCo and RuNi models. d) The H* Gibbs free energy for Ru, RuCo and RuNi models. The dotted line corresponds to a Gibbs free energy equal to zero.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Structural characterization of RuCo ANSs. a) SEM image showing a two‐dimensional nanosheet morphology. b) STEM image. c) High‐resolution STEM image. d) Atomic resolution STEM image (top) and relative line profile (bottom). e) Atomic structure of Ru‐substituted Co (200). The image is an amplification at the white rectangle 1 in image d. The red circles in e mark the Ru sites. f) Ru K‐edge (left) and Co K‐edge (right) EXAFS.
Figure 2 Structural characterization of RuCo ANSs. a) SEM image showing a two‐dimensional nanosheet morphology. b) STEM image. c) High‐resolution STEM image. d) Atomic resolution STEM image (top) and relative line profile (bottom). e) Atomic structure of Ru‐substituted Co (200). The image is an amplification at the white rectangle 1 in image d. The red circles in e mark the Ru sites. f) Ru K‐edge (left) and Co K‐edge (right) EXAFS.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Electrochemical HER performance. Polarization curves (a), Tafel plots (b), calculated overpotentials at 10 mA cm−2 (c), and TOF values (d) of various catalysts.
Figure 3 Electrochemical HER performance. Polarization curves (a), Tafel plots (b), calculated overpotentials at 10 mA cm−2 (c), and TOF values (d) of various catalysts.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Catalytic stability and Ru−H binding characterization. Accelerating degradation tests of RuCo ANSs by chronoamperometry (a) and cyclic voltammetry (b). Inset in b shows a zoom‐in between −0.1 and 0 V vs. RHE. Hydrogen sensor (c) and TPD (d) tests of Co precursor, RuCo ANSs, and Ru/C.
Figure 4 Catalytic stability and Ru−H binding characterization. Accelerating degradation tests of RuCo ANSs by chronoamperometry (a) and cyclic voltammetry (b). Inset in b shows a zoom‐in between −0.1 and 0 V vs. RHE. Hydrogen sensor (c) and TPD (d) tests of Co precursor, RuCo ANSs, and Ru/C.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Metadata

Authors
Cai, C., Liu, K., Zhu, Y., Li, P., Wang, Q., Liu, B., Chen, S., Li, H., Zhu, L., Li, H., Fu, J., Chen, Y., Pensa, E., Hu, J., Lu, Y., Chan, T., Cortés, E., & Liu, M.
Affiliations
  • Central South University (CN)
  • Southern University of Science and Technology (CN)
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
  • Zhengzhou University (CN)
  • National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (TW)
Corresponding author
  • Cortés, Emiliano
  • Liu, Min
Venue
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2021-12-07
Volume
61
Issue
4
Pages
e202113664-e202113664
ISSN
  • 1433-7851 (ISSN-L)
  • 1521-3773
OpenAlex
W3217607620
Cited by
213
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 54 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 1
FWCI
6.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Angewandte Chemie International Edition (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
European Commission (ERC-STG 802989)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Hydrogen Storage and Materials
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
Keywords
alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction, ruthenium catalysts, metal-hydrogen interaction, charge transfer, band center shift, platinum-free electrocatalysts, co-precipitation synthesis, electrochemical reduction, hydrogen adsorption, overpotential

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