Bimetallic nanoalloys planted on super-hydrophilic carbon nanocages featuring tip-intensified hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis
The insufficient availability and activity of interfacial water remain a major challenge for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, we propose an "on-site disruption and near-site compensation" strategy to reform the interfacial water hydrogen bonding network via deliberate cation penetration and catalyst support engineering. This concept is validated using tip-like bimetallic RuNi nanoalloys planted on super-hydrophilic and high-curvature carbon nanocages (RuNi/NC). Theoretical simulations suggest that tip-induced localized concentration of hydrated K<sup>+</sup> facilitates optimization of interfacial water dynamics and intermediate adsorption. In situ synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy endorses an H* spillover-bridged Volmer‒Tafel mechanism synergistically relayed between Ru and Ni. Consequently, RuNi/NC exhibits low overpotential of 12 mV and high durability of 1600 h at 10 mA cm<sup>‒2</sup> for alkaline HER, and demonstrates high performance in both water electrolysis and chlor-alkali electrolysis. This strategy offers a microscopic perspective on catalyst design for manipulation of the local interfacial water structure toward enhanced HER kinetics.
Authors
- Hsiao‐Tsu Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1249-9462)
- Yu‐Cheng Shao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6691-3799)
- Xiuyun Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3816-2403)
- Chih‐Wen Pao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7681-4391)
- Lili Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0817-7372)
- Yi Feng Xiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6318-8010)
- Haihui Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5549-4674)
- Shuwen Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8185-4715)
- Linjie Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3011-3834)
- Chen Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8772-9627)
- Dongdong Xiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8467-3066)
- Kuan Hung Chen
- Wei-Xuan Lin
Institutions
- Tamkang University (TW)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (TW)
- Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter (CN)
- Institute of Physics (CN)
- Fuzhou University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2024-08-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51370-1
- Citations
- 136
- Primary Topic
- Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 13.92
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center
- Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter
- National Key Research and Development Program of China