Ru decorated natural cellulose nanofiber-derived carbon aerogel for efficient hydrogen evolution in alkaline seawater

Qian Zhang, Weijia Guo, Yushan Yang, Shunyu Shen, Xin Chen, Kai Shao, Zhenjie Wang, Qingfeng Sun and Caicai Li

Renewable Energy, 2024, vol. 227, issue C

Abstract: Highly active, stable and affordable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts are intensively needed for global energy conversion systems. Carbon-supported ruthenium (Ru)-based electrocatalysts have been rising stars in recent years and the pursuit of higher activity has arisen intensive research interest. Herein, a novel electrocatalyst with cellulose nanofibers containing abundant carboxyls and hydroxyls as the carbon source to anchor Ru nanoparticles (Ru/NC) was designed and synthesized. Benefiting from the anchoring and dispersion of the carbon substrate to the Ru nanoparticles and the synergistic interaction between the different components, the obtained Ru/NC exhibited optimal HER activity in all the corresponding contrast electrocatalysts, with low overpotentials of 16 mV, 22 mV, and 46 mV to attain 10 mA cm−-2 in 1.0 M KOH, 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH + seawater, respectively. Further, the Tafel slope of Ru/NC in alkaline seawater indicated that its HER process followed a Volmer-Tafel mechanism. Additionally, the synthesized Ru/NC also displayed excellent stability in different electrolytes. This work will provide a novel and interesting insight into the fabrication of advanced carbon-supported electrocatalysts with resource-rich biomass as cost-effective carbon source.

Keywords: Ru-based catalyst; Cellulose nanofibers; N-doping; Seawater electrolysis; Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:227:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124005330

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.120468

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