Microwave Phosphine-Plasma-Assisted Ultrafast Synthesis of Halogen-Doped Ru/RuP<sub>2</sub> with Surface Intermediate Adsorption Modulation for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Wu, Zexing; Li, Qichang; Xu, Guangrui; Jin, Wei; Xiao, Weiping; Li, Zhenjiang; Ma, Tianyi; Feng, Shouhua et al. · Adv Mater · 2024

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Anionic modification engineering is a crucial approach to develop highly efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, halogen elements (X = Cl, Br, and I)-modified Ru-based nanosheets (X-Ru/RuP<sub>2</sub>) are designed by rapid and eco-friendly microwave-phosphide plasma approach within 60 s. Experimental and density functional theory calculations verify that the introduced halogen element, especially Br, can optimize the surface intermediates adsorption. Specially, the designed Br-Ru/RuP<sub>2</sub> favors the water dissociation and following hydrogen adsorption/desorption process. Then, the as-synthesized Br-Ru/RuP<sub>2</sub> exhibits low overpotential of 34 mV to reach 10 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> coupled with small Tafel slope of 27 mV dec<sup>-1</sup> in alkaline electrolyte with excellent long-term stability. Moreover, the electrocatalytic performances in acid and neutral media are also boosted via Br element modification. This work paves a novel way to regulate the electronic structure of Ru-based compounds, and then can boost the electrocatalytic kinetics.