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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
A Simple, Low-cost, and Robust System to Measure the Volume of Hydrogen Evolved by Chemical Reactions with Aqueous Solutions
Published on: August 17, 2016
Surface-Engineered Ru-Graphene Mesosponge Catalysts for pH-Universal and Seawater Hydrogen Evolution
Nichakarn Sornnoei1, Naruewan Samantarkun1, Thanit Saisopa2
1Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
We developed a novel ruthenium-decorated graphene mesosponge catalyst for efficient green hydrogen production. This robust electrocatalyst demonstrates high activity and durability across various pH levels, including seawater, paving the way for practical hydrogen generation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Efficient green hydrogen production requires advanced electrocatalysts with high activity, durability, and pH universality.
- Existing catalysts often face limitations in performance and stability across diverse water sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a robust electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using surface-engineered graphene mesosponge (GMS) decorated with ruthenium (Ru) nanoclusters.
- To evaluate the catalyst's performance, durability, and pH universality for green hydrogen production.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a hierarchical graphene mesosponge (GMS) structure.
- Uniform decoration of GMS with ruthenium (Ru) nanoclusters.
- Electrochemical characterization of the Ru/GMS catalyst for HER performance across acidic, alkaline, and neutral (seawater) conditions.
Main Results:
- The optimized Ru50/GMS catalyst exhibited excellent HER performance with low overpotentials (∼0.13 V in acid, ∼0.061 V in alkali).
- Achieved 10 mA cm-2 at ∼0.39 V in neutral seawater, demonstrating robustness in chloride-rich environments.
- Showcased exceptional durability with negligible degradation after 5000 cycles and 24 h at high current density.
Conclusions:
- Surface-engineered Ru/GMS is a highly active, durable, and pH-universal electrocatalyst for green hydrogen production.
- The catalyst's performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of Ru nanoclusters and the GMS support, optimizing electronic properties and reaction pathways.
- This scalable strategy offers a promising route for efficient, seawater-compatible green hydrogen generation.
