Electronic Communication between Co and Ru Sites Decorated on Nitrogen-doped Carbon Nanotubes Boost the Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

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.