Advanced Ultrathin RuPdM (M = Ni, Co, Fe) Nanosheets Electrocatalyst Boosts Hydrogen Evolution

Dan Zhang; Huan Zhao; Bolong Huang; Bin Li; Hongdong Li; Yi Han; Zuochao Wang; Xueke Wu; Yue Pan; Yingjun Sun; Xuemei Sun; Jianping Lai; Lei Wang

doi:10.1021/acscentsci.9b01110

Advanced Ultrathin RuPdM (M = Ni, Co, Fe) Nanosheets Electrocatalyst Boosts Hydrogen Evolution

ACS Cent Sci. 2019 Dec 26;5(12):1991-1997. doi: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b01110. Epub 2019 Dec 9.

Authors

Dan Zhang¹, Huan Zhao¹, Bolong Huang², Bin Li³, Hongdong Li¹, Yi Han¹, Zuochao Wang¹, Xueke Wu¹, Yue Pan¹, Yingjun Sun¹, Xuemei Sun¹, Jianping Lai¹, Lei Wang¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Eco-Chemical Engineering, Taishan Scholar Advantage and Characteristic Discipline Team of Eco-Chemical Process and Technology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, P. R. China.
² Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China.
³ College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, P. R. China.

Abstract

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the most significant reactions in the electrolysis water process, and electrocatalysts which possess high mass activity and excellent stability are the most important driving factors to improve the efficiency of HER. As for the efficient commercially electrocatalyst, Pt/C is limited in development because of its high cost. Therefore, the study of non-Pt high-efficiency catalysts is particularly important at this moment. Here, we creatively report for the first time a kind of RuPdM (M= Ni, Co, Fe) ultrathin nanosheets (NSs), which exhibit extraordinary electrochemical properties for HER under alkaline conditions. The overpotential of optimized trimetallic Ru₃₈Pd₃₄Ni₂₈ ultrathin NSs is only 20 mV (10 mA cm^-2), and the mass activity reaches 6.15 A mg^-1 _{noble metal} at -0.07 V vs RHE. It can be compared to Pt-based electrocatalysts, which have the highest mass activity currently reported. The durability tests also prove that the stability of the electrocatalyst is outstanding. DFT calculations disclose that the flexible modulation of electronic structures of RuPd ultrathin NSs is achieved by utilizing the additional 3d transition metals Fe, Co, and Ni. In particular, the Ni-3d bands act as the continuous electron-supply center for Ru to ensure an efficient electron transfer toward the adsorbates. Meanwhile, the stable Pd sites are critical for coupling the O-2pπ orbital in the initial H₂O splitting with a facile barrier. This work will open up a new era of non-Pt materials for alkaline hydrogen evolution toward practical application.