High-dispersed ruthenium sites on copper phosphide/graphene for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution in acidic and alkaline conditions

Here, the novel Ru single-atomic sites (SAs) with Cu3P nanoparticles supported on chemically converted graphene (Cu@Cu3P-Ru/CCG) is synthesized as HER catalysts. The TEM result reveals that the average diameter of Cu@Cu3P-Ru/CCG-500 nanoparticles (NPs) is 2 nm. AC-HAADF-STEM and Ru K-edge XAFS results uncover that the bonding environment of Ru is atomically dispersed on Cu3P and chemically converted graphene. Cu@Cu3P-Ru/CCG-500 exhibits a small overpotential of 32.97 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm(-2) (j(10)) in 1 M KOH (102.52 mV in 0.5 M H2SO4). Meanwhile, its Tafel slope is 66.40 mV dec(-1) in 1 M KOH (63.00 mV dec(-1) in 0.5 M H2SO4). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations disclose that the Ru SAs on Cu3P facilitate H2O dissociation and Ru SAs on CCG promote H* to form hydrogen.

Automated summary

In this study, Cu@Cu3P-Ru/CCG nanocatalyst is synthesized for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). TEM analysis reveals the average diameter of Cu@Cu3P-Ru/CCG-500 nanoparticles to be 2 nm. AC-HAADF-STEM and Ru K-edge XAFS results confirm the atomic dispersion of Ru on Cu3P and chemically converted graphene. Cu@Cu3P-Ru/CCG-500 exhibits a low overpotential of 32.97 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm(-2) in 1 M KOH. Its Tafel slope is 66.40 mV dec(-1) in 1 M KOH, indicating efficient HER activity.