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Research Article

Atomically precise Ru-O-Ru clusters for enhanced water dissociation in alkaline hydrogen evolution

Dong Liu1,§, Li Xu1,§, Sicheng Li1, Airong Xu1, Yuanhua Sun1, Tong Liu1, Mengyuan Liu1, Huijuan Wang2, Xiaokang Liu1, Tao Yao1, Tao Ding1( )
Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230029, China
Experimental Center of Engineering and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China

§ Dong Liu and Li Xu contributed equally to this work.

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Graphical Abstract

We have developed a novel carrier-anchoring strategy towards atomically precise Ru-O-Ru atomic clusters and elucidated an interfacial water molecule reorientation mechanism to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) spectroscopy.

Abstract

Atomic clusters typically exhibit distinctive electronic structures and physicochemical properties. However, as the size decreases, their ability to adsorb and dissociate water also diminishes, thereby affecting chemical reactions involving water molecules. Enhancing the adsorption and dissociation capabilities of atomic clusters towards water molecules and elucidating the mechanisms underlying their performance enhancement have become important research directions. Herein, employing the carrier-anchored strategy, Ru-O-Ru atomic clusters were prepared and displayed excellent activity and durability in the hydrogen evolution reaction. Specifically, the Ru-O-Ru atomic clusters exhibited only 86 mV overpotential at 100 mA·cm−2 and superior membrane-electrode-assembly activity than commercial Ru/C catalyst. Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic measurements revealed that the modification of oxygen in Ru-O-Ru units promoted the reorientation of water molecules from a H-up orientation to H-down, therefore, enhanced the formation of strong hydrogen-bond network of interfacial water on the surface of Ru-O-Ru clusters, leading to enhanced adsorption and dissociation of water and accelerated Volmer step. Those findings provide a potential strategy and deep insights for the development of atomic clusters in electrocatalysts.

Keywords

electrocatalysishydrogen evolutionRu catalystsatomic clustersin-situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)

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Nano Research
Volume 17 Issue 8,
August 2024
Pages 6993-7000
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-024-6726-y
Cite this article:
Liu D, Xu L, Li S, et al. Atomically precise Ru-O-Ru clusters for enhanced water dissociation in alkaline hydrogen evolution. Nano Research, 2024, 17(8): 6993-7000. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-024-6726-y
Topics:
Electrocatalysis

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Received: 04 March 2024
Revised: 23 April 2024
Accepted: 28 April 2024
Published: 03 June 2024
© Tsinghua University Press 2024
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