Carbon Dots and RuP₂ Nanohybrid as an Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution Reaction and Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane

Abstract

Hydrogen is an ideal clean, nontoxic, and abundant energy carrier with incomparable potential development value. At present, the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the release of hydrogen from storage materials [e.g., ammonia borane (AB)] are the two most promising clean and efficient hydrogen production methods. The development of a catalyst suitable for both processes will reduce the use of resources and achieve two goals with one product. Although many catalysts have been studied to promote these reactions, unified catalysts for both reactions have rarely been reported. Reported here is the development of a novel hydrogen evolution catalyst based on a uniform self-cross-linked carbon layer loaded with ruthenium phosphide nanoparticles. A simple pyrolysis process produced a material with extraordinary catalytic activity for the HER and also outstanding activity for AB hydrolysis. The catalyst remained stable during both the reactions. This work details an innovative and feasible idea for the design and preparation of various supported catalysts.