image: High-quality N-doped graphene aerogel supported Ru nanocrystals are constructed by employing an adsorption-pyrolysis strategy. Ultrafine size and uniform dispersion of Ru nanocrystals are highly attractive for excellent activity and durability in pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction. Considering the high activity robustness and reasonable price, this article paves a new avenue for budget commercial electrocatalyst of hydrogen production. view more
Credit: Chinese Journal of Catalysis
Currently, the electrocatalytic water splitting is one of the inexpensive, clean, reliable, quiet and affordable industrial-grade efficient hydrogen (H2) production technologies. However, the most effective platinum (Pt) based catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, the cathodic reaction of water electrolysis) are subject to their high price and unsatisfactory stability. Therefore, low cost, high efficiency and high stability HER electrocatalyst are urgently needed to replace Pt based electrocatalysts.
Taking full account of the promising activity, robustness and reasonable price of ruthenium (Ru, the price of Ru metal is only ca. 1/4 ~ 1/20 of that of Pt metal), the high surface area and excellent conductivity of graphene-based advanced carrier, Ru-carbon nanocomposites can be a feasible option for HER. However, it is still a challenge to further improve the catalytic performance of Ru-carbon nanocomposites.
Recently, a research team led by Prof. Yu Chen from Shaanxi Normal University, China designed a high-quality N-doped graphene aerogel supported Ru nanocrystals (Ru-NCs/N-GA) nanocomposites. The reaction precursors of graphene oxide (GO) and ruthenium(III)-polyallylamine (RuIII-PAA) complex uniformly anchored at graphene aerogel, serving as N source and Ru source. Specially, the uniform adsorption of RuIII-PAA complex can led to the homogeneous desperation and ultrafine size of Ru nanocrystals on the graphene aerogel under high-temperature processing. Ru-NCs/N-GA with porous structure and low Ru content (10 w.t.%) exhibit a comparable HER activity with 20 w.t.% Pt/C in both alkaline and acidic mediums. Overall, economically feasible Ru-NCs/N-GA nanocomposites with 10 wt.% Ru are highly promising substitutes for commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst for HER. The results were published in Chinese Journal of Catalysis (https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-2067(21)63977-3).
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About the Journal
Chinese Journal of Catalysis is co-sponsored by Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Chemical Society, and it is currently published by Elsevier group. This monthly journal publishes in English timely contributions of original and rigorously reviewed manuscripts covering all areas of catalysis. The journal publishes Reviews, Accounts, Communications, Articles, Highlights, Perspectives, and Viewpoints of highly scientific values that help understanding and defining of new concepts in both fundamental issues and practical applications of catalysis. Chinese Journal of Catalysis ranks among the top six journals in Applied Chemistry with a current SCI impact factor of 8.271. The Editors-in-Chief are Profs. Can Li and Tao Zhang.
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