Ruthenium (Ru)‐based electrocatalysts as platinum (Pt) alternatives in catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are promising. However, achieving efficient reaction processes on Ru catalysts is still a challenge, especially in alkaline media. Here, the well‐dispersed Ru nanoparticles with adjacent Ru single atoms on carbon substrate (Ru1,n‐NC) is demonstrated to be a superb electrocatalyst for alkaline HER. The obtained Ru1,n‐NC exhibits ultralow overpotential (14.8 mV) and high turnover frequency (1.25 H2 s‐1 at −0.025 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode), much better than the commercial 40 wt.% Pt/C. The analyses reveal that Ru nanoparticles and single sites can promote each other to deliver electrons to the carbon substrate. Eventually, the electronic regulations bring accelerated water dissociation and reduced energy barriers of hydroxide/hydrogen desorption on adjacent Ru sites, then an optimized reaction kinetics for Ru1,n‐NC is obtained to achieve superb hydrogen generation in alkaline media. This work provides a new insight into the catalyst design in simultaneous optimizations of the elementary steps to obtain ideal HER performance in alkaline media.
Enhancing activity and stability of iridium-(Ir-) based oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts is of great significance in practice. Here, we report a vacancy-rich nickel hydroxide stabilized Ir single-atom catalyst (Ir 1 −Ni(OH) 2 ), which achieves longterm OER stability over 260 h and much higher mass activity than commercial IrO 2 in alkaline media. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis certifies the obvious structure reconstruction of catalyst in OER. As a result, an active structure in which highvalence and peripheral oxygen ligands-rich Ir sites are confined onto the nickel oxyhydroxide surface is formed. In addition, the precise introduction of atomized Ir not only surmounts the large-range dissolution and agglomeration of Ir but also suppresses the dissolution of substrate in OER. Theoretical calculations further account for the activation of Ir single atoms and the promotion of oxygen generation by high-valence Ir, and they reveal that the deprotonation process of adsorbed OH is rate-determining.
Developing highly efficient, selective and low-overpotential electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction is crucial. This study reports an efficient Ni single-atom catalyst coordinated with pyrrolic nitrogen and pyridinic nitrogen for CO2 reduction to carbon monoxide (CO). In flow cell experiments, the catalyst achieves a CO partial current density of 20.1 mA cmgeo−2 at −0.15 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (VRHE). It exhibits a high turnover frequency of over 274,000 site−1 h−1 at −1.0 VRHE and maintains high Faradaic efficiency of CO (FECO) exceeding 90% within −0.15 to −0.9 VRHE. Operando synchrotron-based infrared and X-ray absorption spectra, and theoretical calculations reveal that mono CO-adsorbed Ni single sites formed during electrochemical processes contribute to the balance between key intermediates formation and CO desorption, providing insights into the catalyst’s origin of catalytic activity. Overall, this work presents a Ni single-atom catalyst with good selectivity and activity for CO2 reduction while shedding light on its underlying mechanism.
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