Controlled synthesis of high-density metal atom interface defects for acid water oxidation
Xinyu Ping, Yurui Xue, Han Wu, Siao Chen, Siyi Chen, Yang Gao, Yuliang Li
Abstract
ABSTRACT Controlled selective growth of an interface with high-density active sites is the key to constructing efficient and long-term stable proton exchange membrane water electrolysis, which can effectively promote an acidic oxygen evolution reaction. Herein, a 2D all-carbon graphdiyne (GDY) is used as an ideal support to grow a new generated interface of RuOx/GDY and finally to achieve the directed and controlled production of high-density Ru atom defects. The metal atom defect-rich interface not only afforded high intrinsic activity by facilitating the adsorption/desorption ability of reaction intermediates, but also enhanced structural stability by forming interfacial chemical bonds. RuOx/GDY shows a small overpotential of 157 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and 100 h of stability in acidic electrolyte. The proton exchange membrane water electrolyser when using RuOx/GDY as the anodic catalyst only requires 1.47 V to achieve 1000 mA cm−2 and the estimated cost of hydrogen production is US $0.78 kg−1 H2.