Hetero-structured Ru-Mo₂C nanoparticles loaded on N,P co-doped carbon for a pH universal hydrogen evolution reaction

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Ruthenium (Ru) and Molybdenum Carbide (Mo₂C) are known catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
• Constructing heterostructures of these materials can enhance catalytic activity through synergistic effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize N,P co-doped carbon-coated Ru and Mo₂C nanoparticles (Ru-Mo₂C@NPC) for improved HER performance.
• To investigate the catalytic activity of the synthesized material over a wide pH range.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Ru-Mo₂C@NPC using a ZnMo metal-organic framework (MOF) precursor with phosphomolybdic acid.
• Anchoring RuCl₃ onto the ZnMo-MOF, followed by thermal annealing to form encapsulated nanoparticles.
• Characterization of the material's morphology, composition, and catalytic performance.

Main Results:

• The synthesis yielded Ru and Mo₂C nanoparticles encapsulated in N,P-doped carbon with preserved nano-bowl morphology.
• The Ru-Mo₂C@NPC catalyst demonstrated excellent HER activity with low overpotentials (62 mV in H₂SO₄, 64 mV in KOH, 170 mV in PBS at 10 mA cm^-2).
• The catalyst's performance was attributed to the synergistic effect of Ru and Mo₂C, high surface area, and nano-bowl structure enhancing mass transfer.

Conclusions:

• The developed Ru-Mo₂C@NPC catalyst offers a feasible and effective route for designing high-performance HER electrocatalysts.
• The nano-bowl morphology and N,P doping contribute significantly to the enhanced catalytic activity and stability.
• This approach provides a promising strategy for advancing electrocatalytic hydrogen production.