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Rationally designed Ru catalysts supported on TiN for highly efficient and stable hydrogen evolution in alkaline conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Jia Zhao

    (Nankai University
    Nankai University
    Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations)

  • Ricardo Urrego-Ortiz

    (University of Barcelona
    Av. Tolosa 72)

  • Nan Liao

    (Nankai University
    Nankai University
    Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations)

  • Federico Calle-Vallejo

    (Av. Tolosa 72
    Plaza de Euskadi 5)

  • Jingshan Luo

    (Nankai University
    Nankai University
    Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations)

Abstract

Electrocatalysis holds the key to enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of water splitting devices, thereby contributing to the advancement of hydrogen as a clean, sustainable energy carrier. This study focuses on the rational design of Ru nanoparticle catalysts supported on TiN (Ru NPs/TiN) for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline conditions. The as designed catalysts exhibit a high mass activity of 20 A mg−1Ru at an overpotential of 63 mV and long-term stability, surpassing the present benchmarks for commercial electrolyzers. Structural analysis highlights the effective modification of the Ru nanoparticle properties by the TiN substrate, while density functional theory calculations indicate strong adhesion of Ru particles to TiN substrates and advantageous modulation of hydrogen adsorption energies via particle-support interactions. Finally, we assemble an anion exchange membrane electrolyzer using the Ru NPs/TiN as the hydrogen evolution reaction catalyst, which operates at 5 A cm−2 for more than 1000 h with negligible degradation, exceeding the performance requirements for commercial electrolyzers. Our findings contribute to the design of efficient catalysts for water splitting by exploiting particle-support interactions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jia Zhao & Ricardo Urrego-Ortiz & Nan Liao & Federico Calle-Vallejo & Jingshan Luo, 2024. "Rationally designed Ru catalysts supported on TiN for highly efficient and stable hydrogen evolution in alkaline conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50691-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50691-5
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