Tunable Ru‐Ru2P heterostructures with charge redistribution for efficient pH‐universal hydrogen evolution. Issue 5 (24th January 2022) - Chen, Ding
Abstract: Designing synergistic heterogeneous catalytic interfaces is the key to developing highly compatible pH‐universal electrocatalysts for complex chemical environments. Our theoretical calculation results demonstrate that the Ru‐Ru2 P heterointerface can not only promote the redistribution of charges, but also reduce the d ‐band center, and then enhances the adsorption capacity of the key intermediate. However, in situ and facile synthesis of Ru‐Ru2 P heterostructures is severely limited by thermodynamic obstacles. Herein, we propose a molten salt‐assisted catalytic synthesis scheme, and successfully build a series of homologous metallic Ru‐Ru2 P heterostructure catalysts with different molar ratios of Ru to P under atmospheric pressure and low‐temperature (400°C). The resultant Ru‐Ru2 P with rich heterostructures show the Pt‐like HER performance in different pH media. Particularly, it is prominent under alkaline conditions (18 mV @ 10 mA cm − 2 ), which outperforms the Pt catalyst (37 mV @ 10 mA cm − 2 ). Furthermore, Ru‐Ru2 P heterostructures also show certain potential in the electrolysis of seawater to produce hydrogen. This work represents a significant supplement of high‐efficiency pH‐universal HER catalysts, and provides a new light on interface engineering in energy technology fields and beyond. Abstract : A low‐temperature solid phase route is formulated to form controllable Ru‐Ru2 P heterointerfaces with homologous Ru where the higher electronic state crosses the Fermi level and then lowers the d ‐band center, thereby allowing the catalyst with Pt‐like pH‐universal hydrogen evolution reaction kinetics.