Partial‐Single‐Atom, Partial‐Nanoparticle Composites Enhance Water Dissociation for Hydrogen Evolution

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: The development of an efficient electrocatalyst toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of significant importance in transforming renewable electricity to pure and clean hydrogen by water splitting. However, the construction of an active electrocatalyst with multiple sites that can promote the dissociation of water molecules still remains a great challenge. Herein, a partial‐single‐atom, partial‐nanoparticle composite consisting of nanosized ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles (NPs) and individual Ru atoms as an energy‐efficient HER catalyst in alkaline medium is reported. The formation of this unique composite mainly results from the dispersion of Ru NPs to small‐size NPs and single atoms (SAs) on the Fe/N codoped carbon (Fe–N–C) substrate due to the thermodynamic stability. The optimal catalyst exhibits an outstanding HER activity with an ultralow overpotential (9 mV) at 10 mA cm−2 (η10), a high turnover frequency (8.9 H2 s−1 at 50 mV overpotential), and nearly 100% Faraday efficiency, outperforming the state‐of‐the‐art commercial Pt/C and other reported HER electrocatalysts in alkaline condition. Both experimental and theoretical calculations reveal that the coexistence of Ru NPs and SAs can improve the hydride coupling and water dissociation kinetics, thus synergistically enhancing alkaline hydrogen evolution performance.

Source: Advanced Science

DOI: 10.1002/advs.202001881

Authors: Chun Hu, Erhong Song, Maoyu Wang, Wei Chen, Fuqiang Huang, Zhenxing Feng, Jianjun Liu, Jiacheng Wang

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Oregon State University, Illinois Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,000

Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Northwestern University, Oregon State University, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader, Division of Materials Research

OpenAlex ID: W3110001212