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Support Effects of Microwave-Synthesized Ru-Based Catalysts on Their Hydrogen Evolution Performance in Acidic Media
Luan Liu1, Hongru Liu1, Genghua Cao2
1Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 27, 2026
Summary
Ruthenium catalysts on TiO2 show superior performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic conditions. Support interactions and optimized loading are key for efficient electrocatalyst design.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Developing efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for renewable energy technologies.
- Ruthenium (Ru)-based catalysts are promising for HER but require optimization for activity and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and evaluate Ruthenium catalysts supported on various oxides (TiO2, SnO2, WO3) for HER in acidic media.
- To understand the role of metal-support interactions and loading on catalytic performance.
Main Methods:
- Microwave-assisted rapid reduction synthesis of Ru catalysts on TiO2, SnO2, and WO3 supports.
- Characterization using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
- Electrochemical evaluation of HER performance, including overpotential and Tafel slope measurements.
- X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to analyze electronic states and metal-support interactions.
Main Results:
- Ru/TiO2 exhibited the highest HER activity, with an overpotential of 187 mV at 10 mA·cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 97.56 mV·dec⁻¹.
- XPS analysis revealed that an intermediate electron depletion in Ru/TiO2 optimizes Ru-H binding strength, leading to superior kinetics.
- Optimized Ru loading identified Ru/15TiO2 as the best catalyst, showing low charge transfer resistance and stability over 17 hours.
Conclusions:
- The choice of oxide support significantly influences the HER performance of Ruthenium catalysts.
- Support-induced electronic modulation and catalyst loading are critical factors for designing efficient electrocatalysts for acidic HER.
- Ruthenium catalysts supported on TiO2, particularly with optimized loading, represent a promising avenue for hydrogen production.
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