Lattice-Confined Ru Electrocatalysts with Optimal Localized Interfacial Electrons for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation
The interfacial electronic structure has a significant influence on the electrocatalytic activity and durability of metal oxide-supported ruthenium (Ru) electrocatalysts for the alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). Herein, we optimize the interfacial electronic structure by tuning the Ru-O bonds within MnO lattice-confined Ru electrocatalysts, creating efficient and stable sites for alkaline HOR. The formed Ru-O bonds generate localized interfacial electrons and a downshifted d-band center of interfacial Ru atoms, which results in optimal adsorption ability of H* and OH* together with the reduced energy barrier of H<sub>2</sub>O formation. The mass activity achieves 1.26 mA μg<sub>Ru</sub><sup>-1</sup> in 0.1 M KOH, which is 13.0-fold and 8.0-fold higher than that of the contrast Ru/C (0.097 mA μg<sub>Ru</sub><sup>-1</sup>) and commercial Pt/C (0.158 mA μg<sub>Pt</sub><sup>-1</sup>), respectively, while also exhibiting favorable durability and CO tolerance. This work highlights the rational design of Ru-O bonds in optimizing the interfacial electronic structure to enhance the alkaline HOR activity.
Authors
- Qiquan Luo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1450-2856)
- Fangcai Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6012-7957)
- Lingzhi Wei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1241-7212)
- Zhiyuan Xia
- Xiaojuan Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5923-300X)
- Hui Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0847-3887)
- Zhiqiang Li
Institutions
- Anhui University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (CN)
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nano Letters
- Published
- 2025-03-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c06285
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.82
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
- National Key Research and Development Program of China