Formation of Branched Ruthenium Nanoparticles for Improved Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Issue 17 (26th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Poerwoprajitno, Agus R.; Gloag, Lucy; Benedetti, Tania M.; Cheong, Soshan; Watt, John; Huber, Dale L.; Gooding, J. Justin; Tilley, Richard D.
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 15:Issue 17(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-03-26
• Subjects: crystallinity -- electrocatalysis -- nanoparticles -- oxygen evolution reaction -- ruthenium; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201804577
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: Branched nanoparticles are one of the most promising nanoparticle catalysts as their branch sizes and surfaces can be tuned to enable both high activity and stability. Understanding how the crystallinity and surface facets of branched nanoparticles affect their catalytic performance is vital for further catalyst development. In this work, a synthesis is developed to form highly branched ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles with control of crystallinity. It is shown that faceted Ru branched nanoparticles have improved stability and activity in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) compared with polycrystalline Ru nanoparticles. This work achieves a low 180 mV overpotential at 10 mA cm −2 for hours, demonstrating that record‐high stability for Ru nanocrystals can be achieved while retaining high activity for OER. The superior electrocatalytic performance of faceted Ru branched nanoparticles is ascribed to the lower Ru dissolution rate under OER conditions due to low‐index facets on the branch surfaces. Abstract : Controlling the crystallinity of branched ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles shows improved electrocatalytic performance than the state‐of‐the‐art ruthenium‐based catalyst. Faceted ruthenium branched nanoparticles are five times more active and more stable than polycrystalline Ru nanoparticles for oxygen evolution reaction in acid. The strategy to use highly crystalline nanoparticles with low‐index facets provides a platform for the further electrocatalyst development.