Hetero‐Interface Manipulation in MoO<i>_x</i>@Ru to Evoke Industrial Hydrogen Production Performance with Current Density of 4000 mA cm⁻²

Abstract

Abstract Constructing and manipulating hetero‐interfaces for the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is highly desirable, but still poses a significant challenge. Herein, this work adopts a facile way to controllably synthesize three different hetero‐interfaces by anchoring ultrafine Ru nanoparticles on various MoO x nanotube (NT) substrates, including MoO 2 , MoO 2 /MoO 3 , and MoO 3 . Remarkably, MoO 2 @Ru NT displays excellent HER activity with tiny overpotentials of 89 and 131 mV delivering large current densities of 500 and 1000 mA cm −2 , respectively, far surpassing two other hetero‐interfaces, commercial Ru/C, Pt/C catalysts. Impressively, this hetero‐interface even achieves an exceptionally large current density of 4000 mA cm −2 at an overpotential of 322 mV. Moreover, MoO 2 @Ru NT presents exceptional stability for at least 100 h at 1000 mA cm −2 with negligible degradation. Both experimental observations and theoretical calculations suggest that moderate electron transfer from Ru to MoO 2 enhances the water dissociation kinetics, and optimizes the hydrogen adsorption/desorption, thus simultaneously speeding up the HER kinetics. Furthermore, an anion exchange membrane electrolyzer assembled by obtained MoO 2 @Ru NT as a cathode electrocatalyst, shows attractive activity and excellent durability, with a low voltage of 1.78 V at 1000 mA cm −2 , and a prolonged time period for 200 h at 1000 mA cm −2 .