Spherical vs. planar: Steering the electronic communication between Ru nanoparticle and single atom to boost the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity both in acid and alkaline

Steering the electronic structure of a catalyst has been considered as an effective way to boost the electrocatalytic activity of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a core-shell architecture comprising a Ru nanoparticle (NP) encapsulated into an oxyfullerene-like carbon cage decorated with s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2022-06, Vol.307, p.121193, Article 121193
Main Authors: Feng, Yongqiang, Feng, Weihang, Wan, Jing, Chen, Junsheng, Wang, Hai, Li, Shumu, Luo, Tianmi, Hu, Yuzhu, Yuan, Chengke, Cao, Liyun, Feng, Liangliang, Li, Jie, Wen, Rui, Huang, Jianfeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cages
Carbon
Carbon sources
Catalysts
Charge transfer
Communication
Electrocatalyst
Electrocatalysts
Electronic structure
Energy conversion
Energy storage
Free energy
Fullerene
Gibbs free energy
Hydrogen
Hydrogen evolution reaction
Hydrogen evolution reactions
Nanoparticles
Ruthenium
Steering
Substrates
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Steering the electronic structure of a catalyst has been considered as an effective way to boost the electrocatalytic activity of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a core-shell architecture comprising a Ru nanoparticle (NP) encapsulated into an oxyfullerene-like carbon cage decorated with single-atomic RuNx species anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon substrate (RuNP@RuNx-OFC/NC) was constructed. Benefiting from the efficient electronic communication between Ru NP and atomically-distributed Ru site on the carbon cage, the RuNP@RuNx-OFC/NC exhibited outstanding electrocatalytic performance for HER both in acid and alkaline. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrated that the charge transfer from Ru NP to single-atomic Ru could steer the electronic density of Ru sites and thus facilitate the adsorption of hydrogen and dissociation of water. Resultantly, such charge electronic communication effectively reduced the Gibbs free energy, leading to the improved HER activity. The present work would promote the design and construction of efficient electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage. [Display omitted] •A core-shell structure of Ru nanoparticle (NP) decorated with single-atomic RuNx species (RuNP@RuNx-OFC/NC) was constructed.•The RuNP@RuNx-OFC/NC exhibited outstanding electrocatalytic performance for HER both in acid and alkaline medium.•The improved HER activity was attributed to the electronic communication that reduced the Gibbs free energy of the reaction.
ISSN:0926-3373
1873-3883
DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121193