Hetero‐Interface Manipulation in MoO<i><sub>x</sub></i>@Ru to Evoke Industrial Hydrogen Production Performance with Current Density of 4000 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>
Yu Zhang, Chaoqun Ma, Xiaojuan Zhu, Kaiyu Qu, Peidong Shi, Leyang Song, Jing Wang, Qipeng Lu, An‐Liang Wang
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 .