Facile and rapid synthesis of ultrafine RuPd alloy anchored in N-doped porous carbon for superior HER electrocatalysis in both alkaline and acidic media

Abstract

Searching for preeminent electrocatalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is significantly important in transforming renewable electricity to clean hydrogen energy by electrochemical water splitting. Herein, ultrafine RuPd alloy nanoparticles anchored in MOFs-derived N-doped porous carbon dodecahedrons (Ru x Pd 1−x @NPC) were synthesized by microwave-assisted ethylene glycol reduction method. Due to the synergistic promotion by modulating the composition and structure, excellent HER catalytic performance was achieved in both alkaline and acidic media for the as-prepared Ru x Pd 1−x @NPC electrocatalysts with low noble metal loading. In which, Ru 0.7 Pd 0.3 @NPC exhibited significantly enhanced alkaline HER activity with a low overpotential of only 20 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm −2 . Meanwhile, Ru 0.3 Pd 0.7 @NPC showed admirable HER activity in acidic media, which delivered an overpotential of 36 mV at 10 mA cm −2 . Additionally, the proposed catalysts demonstrated high mass activity and good long-term stability in both alkaline and acidic condition, remarkably surpassing the commercial Pt/C catalyst. The superior activity of the Ru x Pd 1−x @NPC catalysts is attributed to improved intrinsic activity, fast charge transfer kinetics and distinct electrochemical active surface areas after alloying. This work provides a rapid and facile synthesis of highly efficient, durable and affordable alloy electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. With low noble metal loading, the alloying Ru x Pd 1−x @NPC electrocatalysts synthesized by facile and rapid microwave-assisted reduction method exhibit dramatically enhanced performance for sustainable hydrogen evolution. • Series of ultrafine alloying RuPd nanoparticles are dispersedly encapsulated in N-doped porous carbon dodecahedrons. • A facile and rapid microwave-assisted reduction method is proposed to synthesize RuPd alloy catalysts. • Enhanced HER electrocatalytic performance is realized in both alkaline and acidic media .