Acetate promotes the formation of NiRu/NiO towards efficient hydrogen evolution

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are versatile precursors for catalyst synthesis.
• Efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts are crucial for sustainable energy technologies.
• Developing cost-effective and high-performance electrocatalysts for HER in alkaline media remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of acetate introduction in MOF precursors on catalyst formation.
• To evaluate the electrocatalytic performance of the resulting NiRu/NiO catalyst for HER.
• To explore a novel synthesis route for advanced HER electrocatalysts.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of NiRu/Ni(OH)2 from MOF precursors with acetate.
• Annealing treatment to form NiRu/NiO catalyst.
• Electrochemical characterization using techniques like cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry in alkaline electrolyte.

Main Results:

• Acetate incorporation successfully altered the MOF structure, leading to NiRu/Ni(OH)2 formation.
• The derived NiRu/NiO catalyst demonstrated high HER activity.
• Achieved a low overpotential of 18 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 43.3 mV dec-1.

Conclusions:

• The acetate-modified MOF precursor route is effective for synthesizing highly active NiRu/NiO HER catalysts.
• The NiRu/NiO catalyst exhibits superior performance in alkaline electrolytes.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for developing efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen production.