RuP2 -Based Catalysts with Platinum-like Activity and Higher Durability for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at All pH Values

Zonghua Pu; Ibrahim Saana Amiinu; Zongkui Kou; Wenqiang Li; Shichun Mu

doi:10.1002/anie.201704911

RuP₂ -Based Catalysts with Platinum-like Activity and Higher Durability for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at All pH Values

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2017 Sep 11;56(38):11559-11564. doi: 10.1002/anie.201704911. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

Authors

Zonghua Pu¹, Ibrahim Saana Amiinu¹, Zongkui Kou¹, Wenqiang Li¹, Shichun Mu¹

Affiliation

¹ State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Hubei, 430070, Wuhan, China.

PMID: 28696513
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201704911

Abstract

Highly active, stable, and cheap Pt-free catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are under increasing demand for future energy conversion systems. However, developing HER electrocatalysts with Pt-like activity that can function at all pH values still remains as a great challenge. Herein, based on our theoretical predictions, we design and synthesize a novel N,P dual-doped carbon-encapsulated ruthenium diphosphide (RuP₂ @NPC) nanoparticle electrocatalyst for HER. Electrochemical tests reveal that, compared with the Pt/C catalyst, RuP₂ @NPC not only has Pt-like HER activity with small overpotentials at 10 mA cm^-2 (38 mV in 0.5 m H₂ SO₄ , 57 mV in 1.0 m PBS and 52 mV in 1.0 m KOH), but demonstrates superior stability at all pH values, as well as 100 % Faradaic yields. Therefore, this work adds to the growing family of transition-metal phosphides/heteroatom-doped carbon heterostructures with advanced performance in HER.

Keywords: N,P dual-doped carbon; electrocatalysts; hydrogen evolution reaction; ruthenium diphosphide.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't