High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution by Ru Single Atoms and Nitrided-Ru Nanoparticles Implanted on N-Doped Graphitic Sheet

Jitendra N. Tiwari, Ahmad M. Harzandi, Miran Ha, Siraj Sultan, Chang Woo Myung, Hyo Ju Park, Dong Yeon Kim, Pandiarajan Thangavel, Aditya Narayan Singh, Pankaj Sharma, Selvaraj Selva Chandrasekaran, Foad Salehnia, Ji Wook Jang, Hyeon Suk Shin, Zonghoon Lee, Kwang S. Kim

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284 Scopus citations

Abstract

The most efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a Pt-based catalyst, but its high cost and nonperfect efficiency hinder wide-ranging industrial/technological applications. Here, an electrocatalyst of both ruthenium (Ru) single atoms (SAs) and N-doped-graphitic(GN)-shell-covered nitrided-Ru nanoparticles (NPs) (having a Ru-Nx shell) embedded on melamine-derived GN matrix {1: [Ru(SA)+Ru(NP)@RuNx@GN]/GN}, which exhibits superior HER activity in both acidic and basic media, is presented. In 0.5 m H2SO4/1 m KOH solutions, 1 shows diminutive “negative overpotentials” (−η = |η| = 10/7 mV at 10 mA cm−2, lowest ever) and high exchange current densities (4.70/1.96 mA cm−2). The remarkable HER performance is attributed to the near-zero free energies for hydrogen adsorption/desorption on Ru(SAs) and the increased conductivity of melamine-derived GN sheets by the presence of nitrided-Ru(NPs). The nitridation process forming nitrided-Ru(NPs), which are imperfectly covered by a GN shell, allows superb long-term operation durability. The catalyst splits water into molecular oxygen and hydrogen at 1.50/1.40 V (in 0.1 m HClO4/1 m KOH), demonstrating its potential as a ready-to-use, highly effective energy device for industrial applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1900931
JournalAdvanced Energy Materials
Volume9
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 Jul 2019

Keywords

  • electrocatalysts
  • hydrogen evolution reaction
  • nitrided-Ru nanoparticles
  • single atoms
  • water splitting

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