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  • Rapid Synthesis of Ruthenium–Copper Nanocomposites as High‐Performance Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Electrochemical Water Splitting
Title: Rapid Synthesis of Ruthenium–Copper Nanocomposites as High‐Performance Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Electrochemical Water Splitting
Abstract Development of high‐performance, low‐cost catalysts for electrochemical water splitting is key to sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, ultrafast synthesis of carbon‐supported ruthenium–copper (RuCu/C) nanocomposites is reported by magnetic induction heating, where the rapid Joule's heating of RuCl3and CuCl2at 200 A for 10 s produces Ru–Cl residues‐decorated Ru nanocrystals dispersed on a CuClxscaffold, featuring effective Ru to Cu charge transfer. Among the series, the RuCu/C‐3 sample exhibits the best activity in 1 mKOH toward both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), with an overpotential of only −23 and +270 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2, respectively. When RuCu/C‐3 is used as bifunctional catalysts for electrochemical water splitting, a low cell voltage of 1.53 V is needed to produce 10 mA cm−2, markedly better than that with a mixture of commercial Pt/C+RuO2(1.59 V). In situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy measurements show that the bifunctional activity is due to reduction of the Ru–Cl residues at low electrode potentials that enriches metallic Ru and oxidation at high electrode potentials that facilitates the formation of amorphous RuOx. These findings highlight the unique potential of MIH in the ultrafast synthesis of high‐performance catalysts for electrochemical water splitting.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1900235
PAR ID:
10564895
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Small
Volume:
20
Issue:
46
ISSN:
1613-6810
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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