RuTe2 Decorated Carbon Nanofiber Electrocatalyst Synthesized via a Sustainable Method for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution in Acidic and Alkaline Electrolytes

Abstract

A novel ruthenium ditelluride (RuTe2) catalyst supported by graphitized carbon nanofibers (GNF) has been synthesized developing a straightforward, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective method. Characterization studies indicated that the formation of crystalline RuTe2 nanoparticles uniformly immobilized at the step edges within the internal cavity of GNF support, with an average nanoparticle size of ~4 nm, as well as the external surface of GNF. The electrocatalytic performance of RuTe2/@GNF in the hydrogen evolution reaction was investigated in both acidic and alkaline mediums. The results were compared with those of commercial platinum nanoparticles on activated carbon (Pt/C), as well as with hollow GNF and GNF-supported metallic ruthenium nanoparticles. The results indicated that GNF-supported RuTe2 exhibited a comparable HER performance to state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst and suppressed the HER activity of other control materials. Increased HER activity was attributed to the confined space of step edges enabled the robust and active catalytic sites and facilitated the HER in a nanoscale environment. Additionally, the highly conductive GNF support functioned as an effective electrical bridge between the nanoparticles and the macroscopic electrode. This configuration not only facilitated efficient charge transfer between the electrolyte and the catalyst but also enhanced overall performance. As a result, RuTe2/@GNF served as a bifunctional catalyst in both mediums, facilitating enhanced proton adsorption/desorption process and effectively overcoming water dissociation barriers. This study paves the way for developing novel sustainable ruthenium chalcogenide-based catalysts that are alternatives to traditional platinum catalysts, highlighting their potential use for efficient hydrogen generation.

Keywords

• Ruthenium ditelluride
• Graphitized carbon nanofibers
• 1D Hybrid nanomaterials
• Hydrogen evolution reaction
• Electrocatalysis

Asidik ve Alkalin Elektrolitlerde Elektrokimyasal Hidrojen Üretimi için Sürdürülebilir bir Yöntemle RuTe2 Dekore Edilmiş Karbon Nanofiberlerin Sentezi

Abstract

Rutenyum ditellürid (RuTe2) katalizörü, grafitize olmuş karbon nanofiberler (GNF) üzerine dekore edilerek basit, çevre dostu ve düşük maliyetli özgün bir yöntem geliştirerek sentezlendi. Karakterizasyon çalışmaları, kristalin RuTe2 nanopartikül oluşumların hem GNF destek malzemesinin iç kısmındaki kıvrımlı karbon kenarlarında, ortalama ~4 nm nanopartikül boyutu ile, hem de GNF'nin dış yüzeyinde homojen bir şekilde dağılım gösterdi. RuTe2/@GNF'nin hidrojen evrim reaksiyonundaki elektrokimyasal performansı hem asidik hem de alkali ortamlarda araştırıldı. Sonuçlar, ticari aktif karbon üzerine dekore edilmiş platin nanopartiküllerinin (Pt/C), GNF ve metalik rutenyum nanopartiküllerinin GNF üzerine dekore edildiği malzemelerin HER sonuçlarıyla karşılaştırıldı. Sonuçlar, GNF destekli RuTe2'nin son teknoloji Pt/C katalizörüne benzer bir HER performansı sergilediğini ve diğer kontrol materyallerinin HER aktivitesini bastırdığını gösterdi. Artan HER aktivitesi, HER için nano ölçekli bir ortamda kararlı ve aktif katalitik bölgelerin oluşmasını sağlayan GNF iç kısmındaki kıvrımlı kenarlarının sınırlı alanına atfedildi. Dahası, yüksek iletkenliğe sahip GNF destek malzemesi, nanopartiküller ile makroskobik elektrot arasında etkili bir elektrik köprüsü işlevi gördü. Bu yapılandırma, yalnızca elektrolit ile katalizör arasında verimli yük transferini kolaylaştırmakla kalmadı, aynı zamanda genel performansı da artırdı. Sonuç olarak, RuTe2/@GNF her iki ortamda da çift işlevli bir katalizör görevi görerek gelişmiş proton adsorpsiyon/desorpsiyon sürecini kolaylaştırdı ve suyun elektrokimyasal ayrışma bariyerlerinin etkili bir şekilde aşılması sağlandı. Bu çalışma, geleneksel platin katalizörlerine alternatif olan yeni sürdürülebilir rutenyum kalkojenür bazlı katalizörlerin geliştirilmesinin önünü açmakta ve bunların verimli hidrojen üretimi için potansiyel kullanımlarını vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Rutenyum ditellürid
• Grafitize olmuş karbon nanofiber
• 1D Hibrit nanomalzemeler
• Hidrojen üretim reaksiyonu
• Elektrokataliz

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