Building strong metal-support interaction between TiN and RuO2 for efficient acidic oxygen evolution reaction

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 71; pp. 804 - 810
• Main Authors: Wang, Guina, Wan, Weixuan, Chen, Min, Li, Jing, Wu, Xiao, Huang, Shuyi, Li, Ke, Tian, Xinlong, Kang, Zhenye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 19.06.2024
• Subjects: Oxygen evolution reaction; Ruthenium dioxide nanoparticles; Stability; Strong metal−support interactions; Titanium nitride; Titanium nitride; Strong metal−support interactions; Stability; Oxygen evolution reaction; Ruthenium dioxide nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0360-3199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.05.315

Ruthenium-based catalysts have been proposed to potentially replace iridium-based catalysts in acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), however the limited long-term stability poses a significant challenge. In addressing this issue, this study successfully synthesizes RuO2 NPs/TiN electrocatalysts by depositing RuO2 nanoparticles (NPs) onto TiN nanotubes. The presence of TiN effectively promotes the dispersion of RuO2 NPs while concurrently mitigating their aggregation, consequently leading to a heightened exposure of active sites within the RuO2 NPs/TiN catalysts. Additionally, the electron transfer from Ru to Ti demonstrates the strong metal-support interactions between the RuO2 NPs and TiN, thereby enhancing the performance and stability of RuO2 NPs/TiN catalysts. The catalysts display a low overpotential of 220 mV at 10 mA cm−2 that is much lower than commercial RuO2 (280 mV), and experience a stable performance during 100 h of continuous test. Our research expands the spectrum of supported choices available for Ru-based catalysts in the realm of OER. RuO2 NPs/TiN electrocatalysts is successfully synthesized, demonstrating exceptional stability in catalyzing the acidic OER. [Display omitted] •The incorporation of RuO2 NPs on TiN harnesses the phenomenon of SMSI enhancing the overall stability of the catalyst.•The TiN nanotube structure promotes the dispersion of RuO2, and facilitates the exposure of more active sites.•The catalyst exhibits good performance and stability for acidic OER.•The catalyst shows promising application in PEMWE device.