scholarly journals Engineering Ruthenium-Based Electrocatalysts for Effective Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingjie Yang ◽  
Yanhui Yu ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Qingrong Chen ◽  
Yanlian Du ◽  
...  

AbstractThe investigation of highly effective, durable, and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a prerequisite for the upcoming hydrogen energy society. To establish a new hydrogen energy system and gradually replace the traditional fossil-based energy, electrochemical water-splitting is considered the most promising, environmentally friendly, and efficient way to produce pure hydrogen. Compared with the commonly used platinum (Pt)-based catalysts, ruthenium (Ru) is expected to be a good alternative because of its similar hydrogen bonding energy, lower water decomposition barrier, and considerably lower price. Analyzing and revealing the HER mechanisms, as well as identifying a rational design of Ru-based HER catalysts with desirable activity and stability is indispensable. In this review, the research progress on HER electrocatalysts and the relevant describing parameters for HER performance are briefly introduced. Moreover, four major strategies to improve the performance of Ru-based electrocatalysts, including electronic effect modulation, support engineering, structure design, and maximum utilization (single atom) are discussed. Finally, the challenges, solutions and prospects are highlighted to prompt the practical applications of Ru-based electrocatalysts for HER.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Panlong Zhai ◽  
Mingyue Xia ◽  
Yunzhen Wu ◽  
Guanghui Zhang ◽  
Junfeng Gao ◽  
...  

AbstractRational design of single atom catalyst is critical for efficient sustainable energy conversion. However, the atomic-level control of active sites is essential for electrocatalytic materials in alkaline electrolyte. Moreover, well-defined surface structures lead to in-depth understanding of catalytic mechanisms. Herein, we report a single-atomic-site ruthenium stabilized on defective nickel-iron layered double hydroxide nanosheets (Ru1/D-NiFe LDH). Under precise regulation of local coordination environments of catalytically active sites and the existence of the defects, Ru1/D-NiFe LDH delivers an ultralow overpotential of 18 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for hydrogen evolution reaction, surpassing the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Density functional theory calculations reveal that Ru1/D-NiFe LDH optimizes the adsorption energies of intermediates for hydrogen evolution reaction and promotes the O–O coupling at a Ru–O active site for oxygen evolution reaction. The Ru1/D-NiFe LDH as an ideal model reveals superior water splitting performance with potential for the development of promising water-alkali electrocatalysts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yamei Sun ◽  
Ziqian Xue ◽  
Qinglin Liu ◽  
Yaling Jia ◽  
Yinle Li ◽  
...  

AbstractDeveloping high-performance electrocatalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction is important for clean and sustainable hydrogen energy, yet still challenging. Herein, we report a single-atom strategy to construct excellent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalyst (NiRu0.13-BDC) by introducing atomically dispersed Ru. Significantly, the obtained NiRu0.13-BDC exhibits outstanding hydrogen evolution activity in all pH, especially with a low overpotential of 36 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M phosphate buffered saline solution, which is comparable to commercial Pt/C. X-ray absorption fine structures and the density functional theory calculations reveal that introducing Ru single-atom can modulate electronic structure of metal center in the MOF, leading to the optimization of binding strength for H2O and H*, and the enhancement of HER performance. This work establishes single-atom strategy as an efficient approach to modulate electronic structure of MOFs for catalyst design.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1803689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Delowar Hossain ◽  
Zhenjing Liu ◽  
Minghao Zhuang ◽  
Xingxu Yan ◽  
Gui-Liang Xu ◽  
...  

Catalysts ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cun Hu ◽  
Chao Lv ◽  
Shuai Liu ◽  
Yan Shi ◽  
Jiangfeng Song ◽  
...  

The production of hydrogen through electrochemical water splitting driven by clean energy becomes a sustainable route for utilization of hydrogen energy, while an efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst is required to achieve a high energy conversion efficiency. Nickel phosphides have been widely explored for electrocatalytic HER due to their unique electronic properties, efficient electrocatalytic performance, and a superior anti-corrosion feature. However, the HER activities of nickel phosphide electrocatalysts are still low for practical applications in electrolyzers, and further studies are necessary. Therefore, at the current stage, a specific comprehensive review is necessary to focus on the progresses of the nickel phosphide electrocatalysts. This review focuses on the developments of preparation approaches of nickel phosphides for HER, including a mechanism of HER, properties of nickel phosphides, and preparation and electrocatalytic HER performances of nickel phosphides. The progresses of the preparation and HER activities of the nickel phosphide electrocatalysts are mainly discussed by classification of the preparation method. The comparative surveys of their HER activities are made in terms of experimental metrics of overpotential at a certain current density and Tafel slope together with the preparation method. The remaining challenges and perspectives of the future development of nickel phosphide electrocatalysts for HER are also proposed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yamei Sun ◽  
Ziqian Xue ◽  
Qinglin Liu ◽  
Yaling Jia ◽  
Yinle Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Developing high-performance electrocatalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction is important for clean and sustainable hydrogen energy, yet still challenging. Herein, we report a single-atom strategy to construct excellent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst (NiRu0.13-BDC, BDC: terephthalic acid) by introducing atomically dispersed Ru. Significantly, the obtained NiRu0.13-BDC exhibits outstanding HER activity in all pH, especially with a low overpotential of only 36 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 in 1 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution, which is comparable to commercial Pt/C. X-ray absorption fine structures and the density functional theory calculations reveal that introducing Ru single-atom can modulate electronic structure of metal center in the MOF, leading to the optimization of binding strength for H2O and H*, and the enhancement of HER performance. This work establishes single-atom strategy as an efficient approach to modulate electronic structure of MOFs for catalyst design.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (18) ◽  
pp. 9202-9208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Cai Huang ◽  
Yang Zhao ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
...  

A highly efficient and reliable descriptor is proposed offering a strategy to rationally design SACs for the HER conveniently and quickly.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1513
Author(s):  
Jialing Kang ◽  
Mengjia Wang ◽  
Chenbao Lu ◽  
Changchun Ke ◽  
Pan Liu ◽  
...  

Due to the growing demand for energy and imminent environmental issues, hydrogen energy has attracted widespread attention as an alternative to traditional fossil energy. Platinum (Pt) catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising technology to produce hydrogen because the consumed electricity can be generated from renewable energy. To overcome the high cost of Pt, one effective strategy is decreasing the Pt nanoparticle (NP) size from submicron to nano-scale or even down to single atom level for efficient interacting water molecules. Herein, atomically dispersed Pt and ultra-fine Pt NPs embedded porous carbons were prepared through the pyrolysis of Pt porphyrin-based conjugated microporous polymer. As-prepared electrocatalyst exhibit high HER activity with overpotential of down to 31 mV at 10 mA cm−2, and mass activity of up to 1.3 A mgPt−1 at overpotential of 100 mV, which is double of commercial Pt/C (0.66 A mgPt−1). Such promising performance can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of the atomically dispersed Pt and ultra-fine Pt NPs. This work provides a new strategy to prepare porous carbons with both atomically dispersed metal active sites and corresponding metal NPs for various electrocatalysis, such as oxygen reduction reaction, carbon dioxide reduction, etc.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Shi ◽  
Zhi-Rui Ma ◽  
Yi-Ying Xiao ◽  
Yun-Chao Yin ◽  
Wen-Mao Huang ◽  
...  

AbstractTuning metal–support interaction has been considered as an effective approach to modulate the electronic structure and catalytic activity of supported metal catalysts. At the atomic level, the understanding of the structure–activity relationship still remains obscure in heterogeneous catalysis, such as the conversion of water (alkaline) or hydronium ions (acid) to hydrogen (hydrogen evolution reaction, HER). Here, we reveal that the fine control over the oxidation states of single-atom Pt catalysts through electronic metal–support interaction significantly modulates the catalytic activities in either acidic or alkaline HER. Combined with detailed spectroscopic and electrochemical characterizations, the structure–activity relationship is established by correlating the acidic/alkaline HER activity with the average oxidation state of single-atom Pt and the Pt–H/Pt–OH interaction. This study sheds light on the atomic-level mechanistic understanding of acidic and alkaline HER, and further provides guidelines for the rational design of high-performance single-atom catalysts.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 4651
Author(s):  
Yilin Deng ◽  
Wei Lai ◽  
Bin Xu

The energy crisis and environmental pollution have attracted much attention and have promoted researches on clean and sustainable hydrogen energy resources. With the help of highly active and stable transition metal nickel-based catalysts, the production of hydrogen from water electrolysis from electrolyzed water has become an inexpensive and efficient strategy for generating hydrogen energy. In recent years, heteroatom doping has been found to be an effective strategy to improve the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performances of nickel-based catalysts in acidic, neutral, and alkaline media. This review will highlight many recent works of inexpensive and readily available heteroatom-doped nickel-based HER catalysts. The evaluation methods for the performances of HER catalyst will be briefly described, and the role of heteroatom doping and its application in nickel-based catalyst will be summarized. This article will also point out some heteroatom doping strategies, which may provide references and inspire the design of other catalysts with dopants.


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