High Performance Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Catalyst Based on Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Decorated by RuOx Nanoparticles. Issue 12 (22nd June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fedorov, Fedor S.; Settipani, Daniel; Melandsø Buan, Marthe Emelie; Sainio, Jani; Ali, Farhan S. M.; Ilatovskii, Daniil; Kallio, Tanja; Nasibulin, Albert G.
• Is Part Of: ChemElectroChem. Volume 7:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 2651
• Page End: 2659
• Publication Date: 2020-06-22
• Subjects: carbon nanotubes -- ruthenium oxide -- atomic layer deposition -- hydrogen evolution reaction -- wettability; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1002/celc.202000528
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-0216

Abstract

Abstract: We report a cathode material based on plasma‐treated single‐walled carbon nanotubes decorated by RuO x nanoparticles using atomic layer deposition. We have examined cathode performance towards hydrogen evolution reaction by tailoring material wettability, conductivity yielded by plasma treatment, and the catalyst loading. We discuss that nucleation of particles is facilitated by the appearance of carboxylic and hydroxyl groups triggered by oxygen plasma action. The best performance is associated with samples containing RuO x particles of 4–5 nm, which show hydrogen evolution onset potential to be about −5 mV ( vs . RHE) in 0.5 M H2 SO4 measured at a current density of −1 mA cm −2 and Tafel slope of 47.5 mV/dec. The material possesses stable performance at −10 mA cm −2 with a potential of about −160 mV. Abstract : Tailored properties : Plasma treated single‐walled carbon nanotube films with anchored RuO x nanoparticles demonstrate high electrocatalytic activity towards HER at ultralow loading of Ru. Anchoring of RuO x is favored by the appearance of carboxylic and hydroxyl groups at carbon nanotubes surface; uniform decoration of carbon nanotubes is ensured by processing the material in free‐standing geometry.