Rapid preparation of carbon-supported ruthenium nanoparticles by magnetic induction heating for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction in both acidic and alkaline media

[摘要] Ruthenium has been hailed as a competitive alternative for platinum toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a critical process in electrochemical water splitting. In this study, we successfully prepare metallic Ru nanoparticles supported on carbon paper by utilizing a novel magnetic induction heating (MIH) method. The samples are obtained within seconds, featuring a Cl-enriched surface that is unattainable via conventional thermal annealing. The best sample within the series shows a remarkable HER activity in both acidic and alkaline media with an overpotential of only -23 and -12 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA/cm 2 , highly comparable to that of the Pt/C benchmark. Theoretical studies based on density functional theory show that the excellent electrocatalytic activity is accounted by the surface metal-Cl species that facilitate charge transfer and downshift the d-band center. Results from this study highlight the unique advantages of MIH in rapid sample preparation, where residual anion ligands play a critical role in manipulating the electronic properties of the metal surfaces and the eventual electrocatalytic activity.

[学科分类] 电力

[关键词] Cl-enriched surface;density functional theory;hydrogen evolution reaction;magnetic induction heating;ruthenium