Promoting Subordinate, Efficient Ruthenium Sites with Interstitial Silicon for Pt‐Like Electrocatalytic Activity. Issue 33 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Hui; Ai, Xuan; Liu, Wang; Xie, Zhoubing; Feng, Weiqiang; Chen, Wei; Zou, Xiaoxin
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 58:Issue 33(2019)
• Page Start: 11409
• Page End: 11413
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: electrocatalysis -- electronic structure -- hydrogen evolution reaction -- site preference; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201906394
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: The fundamental understanding and rational manipulation of catalytic site preference at extended solid surfaces is crucial in the search for advanced catalysts. Herein we find that the Ru top sites at metallic ruthenium surface have efficient Pt‐like activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), but they are subordinate to their adjacent, less active Ru3 ‐hollow sites due to the stronger hydrogen‐binding ability of the latter. We also present an interstitial incorporation strategy for the promotion of the Ru top sites from subordinate to dominant character, while maintaining Pt‐like catalytic activity. Our combined theoretical and experimental studies further identify intermetallic RuSi as a highly active, non‐Pt material for catalyzing the HER, because of its suitable electronic structure governed by a good balance of ligand and strain effects. Abstract : Due for a promotion : Catalytic site preference can be manipulated for the rational design of advanced catalysts. In Ru‐based electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction, RuSi is identified as a Pt‐like electrocatalyst, due to the promotion of the Ru top sites, which are efficient but subordinate in the Ru(0001) catalyst surface.