Amorphous Ru-based metallene with monometallic atomic interfaces for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution in anion exchange membrane electrolyzer

Abstract

Amorphous metallene is a prospective catalyst due to disordered atomic arrangement and abundant defects/edges. However, challenges persist in preparing amorphous metallene with atomic interface, primarily due to thermodynamic impediment of unconventional phase and difficulty in precise controlling of atomic interface. Here, we synthesized a new class of amorphous RuGa metallene (A-RuGa metallene) with abundant atomic interface by introducing trace atomic-dispersed Ga. The atomic interface between Ga-coordinated Ru and Ru achieves monometallic synergism during alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. The turnover frequency value of A-RuGa metallene reaches 67 s at −0.1 V RHE. Meanwhile, the mass activity of A-RuGa metallene in anion exchange membrane electrolyzer reaches 5.2 A mg at 2.0 V, firstly surpassing commercial Pt/C (1.0 A mg). The trace atomic dispersed Ga could change the local valence state of monometallic Ru, thus promoting water adsorption and dissociation, optimizing H* adsorption and accelerating H* transport at the atomic level.