Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
10:39
Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction
Published on: August 23, 2018
7.2K
Encapsulation-Driven Stabilization of RuCo Alloy Catalysts for Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Jiyeon Kim1, Seunghyo Lee1, Seonjae Baek2
1Division of Ocean Advanced Materials Convergence Engineering, Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Busan 49112, Republic of Korea.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|May 4, 2026
Summary
Developing a novel core-shell electrocatalyst, RuCo@NC, addresses the challenge of durable oxygen evolution reactions (OER) in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). This catalyst shows high activity and stability in acidic conditions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) requires electrocatalysts with high activity and durability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic media.
- Achieving both high performance and long-term stability simultaneously is a significant materials challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a core-shell electrocatalyst, RuCo@NC, for improved OER performance and durability in acidic conditions.
- To investigate the role of nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) shell encapsulation in stabilizing the RuCo alloy core.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of RuCo@NC core-shell electrocatalyst using sequential solution plasma processing and ionic liquid coating.
- Electrochemical characterization of OER activity and durability in acidic media.
- Structural and spectroscopic analyses (e.g., XPS, TEM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Main Results:
- RuCo@NC exhibited a low OER overpotential (221 mV at 10 mA cm⁻²) and a Tafel slope of 76.4 mV dec⁻¹.
- The catalyst demonstrated enhanced durability, retaining 87% of its initial activity after 165 minutes.
- DFT calculations and experimental analyses revealed that the NC shell optimizes adsorption energetics and suppresses metal dissolution via Ru-N interfacial interactions.
Conclusions:
- Carbon encapsulation is an effective strategy for stabilizing Ru-based alloy electrocatalysts for OER in acidic environments.
- The RuCo@NC catalyst offers a promising solution for durable and active electrocatalysis in PEMWE.
- Interfacial metal-nitrogen interactions play a crucial role in enhancing catalyst performance and stability.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Heterogeneous Catalysis
141
Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...
141
02:13Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
12.5K
Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called catalytic hydrogenation.
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
12.5K
02:44Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
11.2K
Alkenes are converted to 1,2-diols or glycols through a process called dihydroxylation. It involves the addition of two hydroxyl groups across the double bond with two different stereochemical approaches, namely anti and syn. Dihydroxylation using osmium tetroxide progresses with syn stereochemistry.
11.2K
02:21Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Potassium Permanganate
15.7K
Alkenes can be dihydroxylated using potassium permanganate. The method encompasses the reaction of an alkene with a cold, dilute solution of potassium permanganate under basic conditions to form a cis-diol along with a brown precipitate of manganese dioxide.
15.7K
01:46Oxidative Cleavage of Alkenes: Ozonolysis
10.2K
In ozonolysis, ozone is used to cleave a carbon–carbon double bond to form aldehydes and ketones, or carboxylic acids, depending on the work-up.
Ozone is a symmetrical bent molecule stabilized by a resonance structure.
Ozone is a symmetrical bent molecule stabilized by a resonance structure.
10.2K
02:36Oxymercuration-Reduction of Alkenes
8.3K
Oxymercuration–reduction of alkenes is one of the major reactions converting alkenes to alcohols. It involves the hydration of alkenes with mercuric acetate in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and water, forming an organomercury adduct. This is followed by a demercuration step in which the adduct is reduced to an alcohol using sodium borohydride.
8.3K