P-Doping Modulated RuIr Nanoparticles Anchored on Co/N/C Catalysts with Improved Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Activity...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Efficient and stable hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) are critical for sustainable hydrogen production, particularly in alkaline environments.
• Developing advanced electrocatalysts is key to overcoming the limitations of current HER technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel RuIr/Co(SA)NC-P catalyst for enhanced alkaline HER.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of RuIr alloying, P-doping, and CoNx sites on catalytic performance and stability.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a multi-component catalyst featuring RuIr alloys, P-doping, and CoNx sites on a carbon support.
• Electrochemical characterization including overpotential, Tafel slope, and turnover frequency measurements.
• Stability testing to evaluate catalyst durability under alkaline HER conditions.

Main Results:

• The RuIr/Co(SA)NC-P catalyst demonstrated superior HER activity with a low overpotential of 20 mV at 10 mA cm⁻², a Tafel slope of 20.4 mV dec⁻¹, and a turnover frequency of 19.5 H₂ s⁻¹ at 150 mV.
• P-doping effectively optimized hydrogen binding energy and mitigated RuIr alloy dissolution, leading to an 8-fold improvement in catalyst stability.
• CoNx sites facilitated water dissociation and proton transfer, enhancing the overall catalytic process.

Conclusions:

• The developed RuIr/Co(SA)NC-P catalyst represents a significant advancement in alkaline HER electrocatalysis.
• Synergistic integration of alloying, doping, and active sites offers a promising strategy for designing highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts for hydrogen production.