General approach for atomically dispersed precious metal catalysts toward hydrogen reaction

As a carbon-free energy carrier,hydrogen has become the pivot for future clean energy,while efficient hydrogen production and combustion still require precious metal-based catalysts.Single-atom catalysts(SACs)with high atomic utilization open up a desirable perspective for the scale applications of precious metals,but the general and facile preparation of various precious metal-based SACs remains challenging.Herein,a general movable printing method has been developed to synthesize various precious metal-based SACs,such as Pd,Pt,Rh,Ir,and Ru,and the features of highly dispersed single atoms with nitrogen coordination have been identified by comprehensive characterizations.More importantly,the synthesized Pt-and Ru-based SACs exhibit much higher activities than their corresponding nanoparticle counterparts for hydrogen oxidation reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).In addition,the Pd-based SAC delivers an excellent activity for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.Especially for the superior mass activity of Ru-based SACs toward HER,density functional theory calculations confirmed that the adsorption of the hydrogen atom has a significant effect on the spin state and electronic structure of the catalysts.

Deformable Catalytic Material Derived from Mechanical Flexibility for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Deformable catalytic material with excellent flexible structure is a new type of catalyst that has been applied in various chemical reactions,especially electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).In recent years,deformable catalysts for HER have made great progress and would become a research hotspot.The catalytic activities of deformable catalysts could be adjustable by the strain engineering and surface reconfiguration.The surface curvature of flexible catalytic materials is closely related to the electrocatalytic HER properties.Here,firstly,we systematically summarized self-adaptive catalytic performance of deformable catalysts and various micro–nanostructures evolution in catalytic HER process.Secondly,a series of strategies to design highly active catalysts based on the mechanical flexibility of lowdimensional nanomaterials were summarized.Last but not least,we presented the challenges and prospects of the study of flexible and deformable micro–nanostructures of electrocatalysts,which would further deepen the understanding of catalytic mechanisms of deformable HER catalyst.

Precisely Control Relationship between Sulfur Vacancy and H Absorption for Boosting Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Ef fective and robust catalyst is the core of water splitting to produce hydrogen.Here, we report an anionic etching method to tailor the sulfur vacancy(VS) of NiS_(2) to further enhance the electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER). With the VS concentration change from 2.4% to 8.5%, the H* adsorption strength on S sites changed and NiS_(2)-VS 5.9% shows the most optimized H* adsorption for HER with an ultralow onset potential(68 m V) and has long-term stability for 100 h in 1 M KOH media. In situ attenuated-total-reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR-FTIRS) measurements are usually used to monitor the adsorption of intermediates. The S-H* peak of the Ni S_(2)-VS 5.9% appears at a very low voltage, which is favorable for the HER in alkaline media. Density functional theory calculations also demonstrate the Ni S_(2)-VS 5.9% has the optimal |ΔG^(H*)| of 0.17 e V. This work offers a simple and promising pathway to enhance catalytic activity via precise vacancies strategy.

Highly mass activity electrocatalysts with ultralow Pt loading on carbon black for hydrogen evolution reaction

Pt-based nanocatalysts offer excellent prospects for various industries.However,the low loading of Pt with excellent performance for efficient and stable nanocatalysts still presents a considerable challenge.In this study,nanocatalysts with ultralow Pt content,excellent performance,and carbon black as support were prepared through in-situ synthesis.These~2-nm particles uniformly and stably dispersed on carbon black because of the strong s-p-d orbital hybridizations between carbon black and Pt,which suppressed the agglomeration of Pt ions.This unique structure is beneficial for the hydrogen evolution reaction.The catalysts exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction,exhibiting a potential of 100 mV at 100 mA·cm^(-2),which is comparable to those of commercial Pt/C catalysts.Mass activity(1.61 A/mg)was four times that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst(0.37 A/mg).The ultralow Pt loading(6.84wt%)paves the way for the development of next-generation electrocatalysts.

Exploring the Cation Regulation Mechanism for Interfacial Water Involved in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by In Situ Raman Spectroscopy

Interfacial water molecules are the most important participants in the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Hence,understanding the behavior and role that interfacial water plays will ultimately reveal the HER mechanism.Unfortunately,investigating interfacial water is extremely challenging owing to the interference caused by bulk water molecules and complexity of the interfacial environment.Here,the behaviors of interfacial water in different cationic electrolytes on Pd surfaces were investigated by the electrochemistry,in situ core-shell nanostructure enhanced Raman spectroscopy and theoretical simulation techniques.Direct spectral evidence reveals a red shift in the frequency and a decrease in the intensity of interfacial water as the potential is shifted in the positively direction.When comparing the different cation electrolyte systems at a given potential,the frequency of the interfacial water peak increases in the specified order:Li+<Na^(+)<K^(+)<Ca^(2+)<Sr^(2+).The structure of interfacial water was optimized by adjusting the radius,valence,and concentration of cation to form the two-H down structure.This unique interfacial water structure will improve the charge transfer efficiency between the water and electrode further enhancing the HER performance.Therefore,local cation tuning strategies can be used to improve the HER performance by optimizing the interfacial water structure.

Atomic-level coupled RuO_(2)/BaRuO_(3) heterostructure for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

The slow water dissociation is the rate-determining step that slows down the reaction rate in alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Optimizing the surface electronic structure of the catalyst to lower the energy barrier of water dissociation and regulating the binding strength of adsorption intermediates are crucial strategy for boosting the catalytic performance of HER.In this study,RuO_(2)/BaRuO_(3)(RBRO)heterostructures with abundant oxygen vacancies and lattice distortion were in-situ constructed under a low temperature via the thermal decomposition of gel-precursor.The RBRO heterostructures obtained at 550℃ exhibited the highest HER activity in 1 M KOH,showing an ultra-low overpotential of 16 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2)and a Tafel slope of 33.37 m V dec^(-1).Additionally,the material demonstrated remarkable durability,with only 25 mV of degradation in overpotential after 200 h of stability testing at 10 mA cm^(-2).Density functional theory calculations revealed that the redistribution of charges at the heterojunction interface can optimize the binding energies of H*and OH*and effectively lower the energy barrier of water dissociation.This research offers novel perspectives on surpassing the water dissociation threshold of alkaline HER catalysts by means of a systematic design of heterogeneous interfaces.

Revealing interfacial charge redistribution of homologous Ru-RuS_(2) heterostructure toward robust hydrogen oxidation reaction

Precisely tailoring the surface electronic structures of electrocatalysts for optimal hydrogen binding energy and hydroxide binding energy is vital to improve the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen oxidation reac-tion(HOR).Herein,we employ a partial desulfurization strategy to construct a homologous Ru-RuS_(2) heterostructure anchored on hollow mesoporous carbon nanospheres(Ru-RuS_(2)@C).The disparate work functions of the heterostructure contribute to the spontaneous formation of a unique built-in electric field,accelerating charge transfer and boosting conductivity of electrocatalyst.Consequently,Ru-RuS_(2)@C exhibits robust HOR electrocatalytic activity,achieving an exchange current density and mass activity as high as 3.56 mA cm^(-2) and 2.13 mAμg_(Ru)^(-1),respectively.exceeding those of state-of-the-art Pt/C and most contemporary Ru-based HOR electrocatalysts.Surprisingly,Ru-RuS_(2)@C can tolerate 1000 ppm of cO that lacks in Pt/C.Comprehensive analysis reveals that the directional electron transfer across Ru-RuS_(2) heterointerface induces local charge redistribution in interfacial region,which optimizes and balances the adsorption energies of H and OH species,as well as lowers the energy barrier for water formation,thereby promoting theHoR performance.

Fundamental Understanding of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Zinc Anode Surface:A First‑Principles Study

Hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)has become a key factor affecting the cycling stability of aqueous Zn-ion batteries,while the corresponding fundamental issues involving HER are still unclear.Herein,the reaction mechanisms of HER on various crystalline surfaces have been investigated by first-principle calculations based on density functional theory.It is found that the Volmer step is the ratelimiting step of HER on the Zn(002)and(100)surfaces,while,the reaction rates of HER on the Zn(101),(102)and(103)surfaces are determined by the Tafel step.Moreover,the correlation between HER activity and the generalized coordination number(CN)of Zn at the surfaces has been revealed.The relatively weaker HER activity on Zn(002)surface can be attributed to the higher CN of surface Zn atom.The atomically uneven Zn(002)surface shows significantly higher HER activity than the flat Zn(002)surface as the CN of the surface Zn atom is lowered.The CN of surface Zn atom is proposed as a key descriptor of HER activity.Tuning the CN of surface Zn atom would be a vital strategy to inhibit HER on the Zn anode surface based on the presented theoretical studies.Furthermore,this work provides a theoretical basis for the in-depth understanding of HER on the Zn surface.

In situ infrared, Raman and X-ray spectroscopy for the mechanistic understanding of hydrogen evolution reaction

Hydrogen production by water reduction reactions has received considerable attention because hydrogen is considered a clean-energy carrier,key for a sustainable energy future.Computational methods have been widely used to study the reaction mechanism of the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER),but the calculation results need to be supported by experimental results and direct evidence to confirm the mechanistic insights.In this review,we discuss the fundamental principles of the in situ spectroscopic strategy and a theoretical model for a mechanistic understanding of the HER.In addition,we investigate recent studies by in situ Fourier transform infrared(FTIR),Raman spectroscopy,and X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS) and cover new findings that occur at the catalyst-electrolyte interface during HER.These spectroscopic strategies provide practical ways to elucidate catalyst phase,reaction intermediate,catalyst-electrolyte interface,intermediate binding energy,metal valency state,and coordination environment during HER.

Recent advances in design of hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts at high current density:A review

The electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy sources offers a promising method of"green hydrogen"production,which is considered to be at the heart of future carbon-neutral energy systems.In the past decades,researchers have reported a number of hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)electrocatalysts with activity comparable to that of commercial Pt/C,but most of them are tested within a small current density range,typically no more than 500 mA cm^(-2).To realize the industrial application of hydrogen production from water electrolysis,it is essential to develop high-efficiency HER electrocatalysts at high current density(HCD≥500 mA cm^(-2)).Nevertheless,it remains challenging and significant to rational design HCD electrocatalysts for HER.In this paper,the design strategy of HCD electrocatalysts is discussed,and some HCD electrocatalysts for HER are reviewed in seven categories(alloy,metal oxide,metal hydroxide,metal sulfide/selenide,metal nitride,metal phosphide and other derived electrocatalysts).At the end of this article,we also pro-pose some viewpoints and prospects for the future development and research directions of HCD electrocatalysts for HER.

Unraveling the Harmonious Coexistence of Ruthenium States on a Self-Standing Electrode for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The development of cost-effective,highly efficient,and durable electrocatalysts has been a paramount pursuit for advancing the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Herein,a simplified synthesis protocol was designed to achieve a self-standing electrode,composed of activated carbon paper embedded with Ru single-atom catalysts and Ru nanoclusters(ACP/Ru_(SAC+C))via acid activation,immersion,and high-temperature pyrolysis.Ab initio molecular dynamics(AIMD)calculations are employed to gain a more profound understanding of the impact of acid activation on carbon paper.Furthermore,the coexistence states of the Ru atoms are confirmed via aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(AC-STEM),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS).Experimental measurements and theoretical calculations reveal that introducing a Ru single-atom site adjacent to the Ru nanoclusters induces a synergistic effect,tuning the electronic structure and thereby significantly enhancing their catalytic performance.Notably,the ACP/Ru_(SAC+C)exhibits a remarkable turnover frequency(TOF)of 18 s^(−1)and an exceptional mass activity(MA)of 2.2 A mg^(−1),surpassing the performance of conventional Pt electrodes.The self-standing electrode,featuring harmoniously coexisting Ru states,stands out as a prospective choice for advancing HER catalysts,enhancing energy efficiency,productivity,and selectivity.

The effect of the carbon components on the performance of carbonbased transition metal electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

The hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is a promising way to produce hydrogen,and the use of non-precious metals with an excellent electrochemical performance is vital for this.Carbon-based transition metal catalysts have high activity and stability,which are important in reducing the cost of hydrogen production and promoting the development of the hydrogen production industry.However,there is a lack of discussion regarding the effect of carbon components on the performance of these electrocatalysts.This review of the literature discusses the choice of the carbon components in these catalysts and their impact on catalytic performance,including electronic structure control by heteroatom doping,morphology adjustment,and the influence of self-supporting materials.It not only analyzes the progress in HER,but also provides guidance for synthesizing high-performance carbon-based transition metal catalysts.

Electronic Communication Between Co and Ru Sites Decorated on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes Boosting the Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Designing highly efficient Pt-free electrocatalysts with low overpotential for an alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)remains a significant challenge.Here,a novel and efficient cobalt(Co),ruthenium(Ru)bimetallic electrocatalyst composed of CoRu nanoalloy decorated on the N-doped carbon nanotubes(CoRu@N-CNTs),was prepared by reacting fullerenol with melamine via hydrothermal treatment and followed by pyrolysis.Benefiting from the electronic communication between Co and Ru sites,the as-obtained CoRu@N-CNTs catalyst exhibited superior electrocatalytic HER activity.To deliver a current density of 10 mA·cm^(-2),it required an overpotential of merely 19 mV along with a Tafel slope of 26.19 mV·dec^(-1)in 1 mol·L^(-1)potassium hydroxide(KOH)solution,outperforming the benchmark Pt/C catalyst.The present work would pave a new way towards the design and construction of an efficient electrocatalyst for energy storage and conversion.

Insights into the hydrogen evolution reaction in vanadium redox flow batteries:A synchrotron radiation based X-ray imaging study

The parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)in the negative half-cell of vanadium redox flow batteries(VRFBs)causes severe efficiency losses.Thus,a deeper understanding of this process and the accompanying bubble formation is crucial.This benchmarking study locally analyzes the bubble distribution in thick,porous electrodes for the first time using deep learning-based image segmentation of synchrotron X-ray micro-tomograms.Each large three-dimensional data set was processed precisely in less than one minute while minimizing human errors and pointing out areas of increased HER activity in VRFBs.The study systematically varies the electrode potential and material,concluding that more negative electrode potentials of-200 m V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)and lower cause more substantial bubble formation,resulting in bubble fractions of around 15%–20%in carbon felt electrodes.Contrarily,the bubble fractions stay only around 2%in an electrode combining carbon felt and carbon paper.The detected areas with high HER activity,such as the border subregion with more than 30%bubble fraction in carbon felt electrodes,the cutting edges,and preferential spots in the electrode bulk,are potential-independent and suggest that larger electrodes with a higher bulk-to-border ratio might reduce HER-related performance losses.The described combination of electrochemical measurements,local X-ray microtomography,AI-based segmentation,and 3D morphometric analysis is a powerful and novel approach for local bubble analysis in three-dimensional porous electrodes,providing an essential toolkit for a broad community working on bubble-generating electrochemical systems.

Accelerating the Screening of Modified MA_(2)Z_(4) Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by Deep Learning-Based Local Geometric Analysis

Machine learning(ML)integrated with density functional theory(DFT)calculations have recently been used to accelerate the design and discovery of single-atom catalysts(SACs)by establishing deep structure–activity relationships.The traditional ML models are always difficult to identify the structural differences among the single-atom systems with different modification methods,leading to the limitation of the potential application range.Aiming to the structural properties of several typical two-dimensional MA_(2)Z_(4)-based single-atom systems(bare MA_(2)Z_(4) and metal single-atom doped/supported MA_(2)Z_(4)),an improved crystal graph convolutional neural network(CGCNN)classification model was employed,instead of the traditional machine learning regression model,to address the challenge of incompatibility in the studied systems.The CGCNN model was optimized using crystal graph representation in which the geometric configuration was divided into active layer,surface layer,and bulk layer(ASB-GCNN).Through ML and DFT calculations,five potential single-atom hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)catalysts were screened from chemical space of 600 MA_(2)Z_(4)-based materials,especially V_(1)/HfSn_(2)N_(4)(S)with high stability and activity(Δ_(GH*)is 0.06 eV).Further projected density of states(pDOS)analysis in combination with the wave function analysis of the SAC-H bond revealed that the SAC-dz^(2)orbital coincided with the H-s orbital around the energy level of−2.50 eV,and orbital analysis confirmed the formation ofσbonds.This study provides an efficient multistep screening design framework of metal single-atom catalyst for HER systems with similar two-dimensional supports but different geometric configurations.

Facet Engineering of Advanced Electrocatalysts Toward Hydrogen/Oxygen Evolution Reactions

The electrocatalytic water splitting technology can generate highpurity hydrogen without emitting carbon dioxide,which is in favor of relieving environmental pollution and energy crisis and achieving carbon neutrality.Electrocatalysts can effectively reduce the reaction energy barrier and increase the reaction efficiency.Facet engineering is considered as a promising strategy in controlling the ratio of desired crystal planes on the surface.Owing to the anisotropy,crystal planes with different orientations usually feature facet-dependent physical and chemical properties,leading to differences in the adsorption energies of oxygen or hydrogen intermediates,and thus exhibit varied electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER).In this review,a brief introduction of the basic concepts,fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanisms as well as key evaluating parameters for both HER and OER are provided.The formation mechanisms of the crystal facets are comprehensively overviewed aiming to give scientific theory guides to realize dominant crystal planes.Subsequently,three strategies of selective capping agent,selective etching agent,and coordination modulation to tune crystal planes are comprehensively summarized.Then,we present an overview of significant contributions of facet-engineered catalysts toward HER,OER,and overall water splitting.In particular,we highlight that density functional theory calculations play an indispensable role in unveiling the structure–activity correlation between the crystal plane and catalytic activity.Finally,the remaining challenges in facet-engineered catalysts for HER and OER are provided and future prospects for designing advanced facet-engineered electrocatalysts are discussed.

Defect-engineered two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides towards electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction

Recently,two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs)demonstrated their great potential as cost-effective catalysts in hydrogen evolution reaction.Herein,we systematically summarize the existing defect engineering strategies,including intrinsic defects(atomic vacancy and active edges)and extrinsic defects(metal doping,nonmetal doping,and hybrid doping),which have been utilized to obtain advanced TMD-based electrocatalysts.Based on theoretical simulations and experimental results,the electronic structure,intermediate adsorption/desorption energies and possible catalytic mechanisms are thoroughly discussed.Particular emphasis is given to the intrinsic relationship between various types of defects and electrocatalytic properties.Furthermore,current opportunities and challenges for mechanical investigations and applications of defective TMD-based catalysts are presented.The aim herein is to reveal the respective properties of various defective TMD catalysts and provide valuable insights for fabricating high-efficiency TMD-based electrocatalysts.

Construction of Ru/WO3 with hetero-interface structure for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Water electrolysis is considered as one most promising technique for hydrogen production.The high efficiency electrocatalyst is the key to accelerating the sluggish kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) in alkaline media.In this work,an efficient HER electrocatalyst with hetero-interfacial metal-metal oxide structure was constructed through a redox solid phase reaction(SPR) strategy.During the annealing process under Ar atmosphere,RuO_(2) and WS_(2)in RuO_(2)/WS_(2)precursor were converted to Ru nanoparticles(NPs) and WO3in situ,where tiny Ru NPs and oxygen vacancies were uniformly distributed onto the newly formed WO3nanosheets.Different characterization techniques were adopted to confirm the successful formation of Ru/WO_(3)electrocatalyst(RWOC).The optimized RWOC sample annealed at 400℃ exhibited the low overpotential value of 13 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)and strong durability under the alkaline condition.Density functional theoretical calculations further revealed that the promoted adsorption/desorption rate of reaction intermediates and the accelerated kinetics of HER process were deduced to the synergistic effect between Ru and WO_(3)in electrocatalyst.This work provides a feasible method to fabricate highly efficient HER electrocatalysts.

Understanding the hydrogen evolution reaction activity of doped single-atom catalysts on two-dimensional GaPS_(4) by DFT and machine learning

As a zero-carbon fuel,hydrogen can be produced via electrochemical water splitting using clean electric energy by the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)process.The ultimate goal of HER catalyst is to replace the expensive Pt metal benchmark with a cheap one with equivalent activities.In this work,we investigated the possibility of HER process on single-atom catalysts(SACs)doped on two-dimensional(2D)GaPS_(4)materials,which have a large intrinsic band gap that can be regulated by doping and tensile strain.Based on the machine learning regression analysis,we can expand the prediction of HER performance to more catalysts without expensive DFT calculation.The electron affinity and first ionization energy are the two most important descriptors related to the HER behavior.Furthermore,constrain molecular dynamics with solvation models and constant potentials were applied to understand the dynamics barrier of HER process of Pt SAC on GaPS_(4)materials.These findings not only provide important insights into the catalytic properties of single-atom catalysts on GaPS_(4)2D materials,but also provides theoretical guidance paradigm for exploration of new catalysts.

Interface Engineering and Anion Engineering of Mo-Based Heterogeneous Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Development and utilization of hydrogen energy is an effective way to achieve carbon neutrality,only hydrogen production through electrolytic water splitting meets the goal of zero carbon emission.To facilitate the large-scale commercialization of water splitting devices,the development of highly efficient and low-cost catalysts to reduce the energy consumption is essential.MoS_(2)has been regarded as a promising electrocatalyst to replace platinum in hydrogen evolution reaction due to its low price and unique 2D layered structure.However,the poor conductivity and inert basal planes of MoS_(2)limited its wide-spread application.Recently,researches have demonstrated that the conductivity and active sites of MoS_(2)can be improved by heteroatoms doping or constructing of heterogeneous structures.In this review,the recent progress of Mo-based catalysts are summarized centered on MoS_(2)based on interface engineering and anion engineering,including MoS_(2)–MoO_(2),MoS_(2)–Mo_(2)C,MoS_(2)–MoN_(x),MoS_(2)–MoP,and MoS_(2)–MoSe_(2).The preparation method,structure,and performance of the catalysts are introduced and the possible mechanism behind the improved catalytic activity are revealed to give readers an overall comprehension on the progress of the Mo-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction.In addition,an outlook on future opportunities and development directions of Mo-based catalysts are proposed to facilitate the development of Mo-based catalysts for hydrogen production.