Design strategies of ruthenium‐based materials toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Hydrogen produced from electrocatalytic water splitting means is deemed to be a promising route to construct a low‐carbon, eco‐friendly, and high‐efficiency modern energy system. The design and construction of highly active catalysts with affordable prices toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are effective in accelerating the overall water‐splitting process. So far, ruthenium (Ru) based catalysts deliver comparable or even superior catalytic performance relative to the platinum (Pt)/C benchmark. Combined with their price advantage, Ru‐based catalysts are undoubtedly considered as one of the perfect alternatives of Pt toward the alkaline HER. Extensive efforts have been made to reasonably synthesize Ru‐related materials, but a careful insight into material engineering strategies and induced effects remain in its infancy. In this review, recent progress on the material engineering strategies for improving the catalytic activity of Ru‐related catalysts, including electronic regulation, geometric modulation, local structure alteration, self‐optimization strategies, and the induced structure–activity relationship are comprehensively summarized. Furthermore, the challenges and perspectives on future studies of Ru‐related electrocatalysts for the alkaline HER are also proposed.

Anomalous dominated (100) index facet endows ruthenium nanoparticles with accelerated alkaline hydrogen evolution

“…The major problems are the deficient proton supply induced by the torpid H 2 O dissociation as well as the poor adsorption/desorption behavior of pivotal intermediate species on the surface of Ru-based catalysts. 6–8 Undoubtedly, the solution to these problems synchronously is an important but difficult question in the exploitation of advanced Ru-based materials toward HER under alkaline conditions.…”

Dual doping: An emerging strategy to construct efficient metal catalysts for water electrolysis

“…Redox-active metal materials have been extensively applied for water electrolysis for their high activity and good stability, especially Fe/Co/Ni/Ir/Ru/Pt-based materials. [8][9][10][11][12][13] The catalytic performance of metal catalysts is largely governed by their chemical compositions, electronic properties, and nanostructures. 14,15 This feature provides great opportunities for researchers to develop high-performance catalysts by altering the physicochemical and electronic properties of metal materials.…”

CoFe-Layered Double Hydroxide Needles on MoS2/Ni3S2 Nanoarrays for Applications as Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution and Oxidation of Organic Chemicals

“…Due to the increasing environmental concerns and global demand for sustainable energy, it is imperative to investigate alternative sources of eco-friendly and renewable energy as a substitute for conventional fossil fuels. − Electrolysis of water has received significant attention owing to its potential to continuously produce hydrogen and replace fossil fuels through a sustainable process. − However, the efficiency of water electrolysis is often hindered by the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which is inhibited by the steps of O–O bond formation and O–H bond breaking with slow reaction kinetics. − In recent years, oxidation reactions of organic molecules (such as urea, ethanol, and hydrazine) have been considered an alternative to OER owing to favorable thermodynamic potentials. − The urea oxidation reaction (UOR) exhibits better thermodynamic favorability than OER, with a lower theoretical potential ( E = 0.37 V vs the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) compared to that of OER ( E = 1.23 V vs RHE). − However, the process of urea electro-oxidation still involves a complex six-electron-transfer step, which also imposes significant limitations on the reaction kinetics. , It is worth noting that one urea molecule comprises an electron-donating amino group (−NH 2 ) and an electron-withdrawing carbonyl group (–CO), which tends to adsorb onto distinct catalytic sites to generate crucial intermediates (CO* and NH*) upon breaking the CO bond. , It plays a vital role in the electro-oxidation reaction of urea. Hence, it is imperative to design a rational electrocatalyst to promote the dissociation of urea.…”