Boron-rich environment boosting ruthenium boride on B, N doped carbon outperforms platinum for hydrogen evolution reaction in a universal pH range. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qiao, Yueyang; Yuan, Pengfei; Pao, Chih-Wen; Cheng, Yong; Pu, Zonghua; Xu, Qun; Mu, Shichun; Zhang, Jianan
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 75(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Ruthenium boride -- Hydrogen evolution -- DFT calculation -- Electrocatalyst -- All pH range; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104881
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Developing cost-effective and stable electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in a universal pH range is highly desirable toward renewable energy systems but remains a great challenge. In this work, we report a novel B-rich diruthenium triboride electrocatalyst homogeneously dispersed on the B, N doped carbon nanofiber (Ru2 B3 @BNC) synthesized at a moderate temperature (600 °C). Electrochemical tests reveal that such a Ru2 B3 @BNC electrocatalyst owns surprising HER performance with ultralow overpotentials (η) of 7, 41, and 58 mV to achieve 10 mA cm −2 in 1 M KOH, 0.5 M H2 SO4, and 1 M PBS (pH = 7) solutions, respectively, outperforming commercial Pt/C and all reported state-of-the-art electrocatalysts, as well as superior durability. Combining density functional theory (DFT) computational Results, it unveils that the electron-deficient B atom can contribute to the local electronic redistribution, leading to the anchoring preference effect of H* on Ru atoms for Ru–B bonds in Ru2 B3 . Thus, our work highlights a new type of cheap noble-metal-based electrocatalysts for high-efficiency HER electrocatalysis. Graphical abstract: In this work, for the first time, we report a novel non-Pt B-rich noble metal diruthenium triboride (Ru2 B3 ) electrocatalyst homogeneously dispersed on the B, N doped carbon nanofiber (Ru2 B3 @BNC), which demonstrates impressive HER performances outperform the commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst over a wide pH range. Image 1 Highlights: We synthesized a Ru2 B3 NPs anchored on B, N-doped carbon fibers (Ru2B3@BNC) as highly efficient HER electrocatalystsd. Ru2 B3 @BNC merely needs 7, 41, and 58 mV to deliver 10 mA cm −2 in 1 M KOH, 0.5 M H2 SO4, and 1 M PBS solutions, respectively. DFT calculations suggest that the Ru-B bonds in Ru2 B3 possesses the more optimal balance of H*-adsorption-H2-desorption capacity than Ru.