Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • FeRu-ERBC achieves an overpotential of only 22.7 mV at 10 mA·cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, outperforming commercial Pt/C and enabling energy-efficient hydrogen production in alkaline media. • • The catalyst demonstrates exceptional long-term stability exceeding 120 hours in alkaline seawater and chemical wastewater, addressing the critical durability bottleneck for practical electrolysis in complex electrolytes. • • The biomass-derived carbon support induces near-complete Fe substitution by Ru, forming an atomically intimate Fe–Ru interface with electron transfer from Fe to Ru, as confirmed by XPS and Bader charge analysis, which optimizes hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔGH) and lowers the water dissociation barrier. • • FeRu-ERBC maintains high HER activity across versatile electrolytes (alkaline, seawater, wastewater), with overpotential and stability metrics indicating resistance to chloride ion poisoning and corrosion, making it suitable for direct use in non-freshwater sources.
Abstract
Electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production is a key pathway for sustainable green hydrogen. However, freshwater scarcity limits large-scale application, necessitating efficient and stable catalysts for complex water sources such as seawater and wastewater. Here, we report a FeRu bimetallic nanocatalyst (FeRu-ERBC) constructed by anchoring FeRu composite nanoparticles on engineered biomass-derived carbon from Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. FeRu-ERBC exhibits excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance in alkaline, seawater, and chemical wastewater environments, achieving an overpotential of only 22.7 mV at 10 mA·cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH and maintaining stability for over 120 h. Structural characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the carbon support provides high specific surface area and hierarchical pores for mass transport, and critically promotes atomic-level substitution of Fe by Ru, forming a tightly coupled Fe–Ru interface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and in situ spectroscopy confirm electron transfer from Fe to Ru, creating a 'Feδ+–Ruδ−' synergistic active center. This interface regulates the surface interfacial water network, enhancing overall reaction kinetics. This work provides a new strategy for designing Ru-based catalysts with interfacial electronic regulation for real-world water environments, highlighting the crucial role of biomass-derived carbon supports in advancing green hydrogen technology.
1. Introduction
The global push for sustainable energy has intensified interest in green hydrogen production via electrochemical water splitting. However, the reliance on high-purity freshwater for conventional electrolysis poses a significant sustainability challenge, as freshwater scarcity becomes increasingly acute. Seawater and industrial wastewater offer abundant alternative sources, but their complex composition—including chloride ions, organic contaminants, and metal ions—severely degrades the performance and durability of typical electrocatalysts. This has created a pressing need for catalysts that maintain high activity and stability under such harsh conditions, a bottleneck that has hindered the practical deployment of water electrolysis beyond laboratory settings.
Ruthenium (Ru) is a promising alternative to platinum due to its favorable hydrogen binding energy and lower cost, particularly in alkaline media compatible with mature anion exchange membrane technology. Yet, Ru-based catalysts often suffer from a trade-off between activity and stability, with strong hydrogen adsorption leading to sluggish desorption and potential dissolution. This study addresses this challenge by engineering a FeRu bimetallic catalyst on a biomass-derived carbon support, which not only provides a high surface area and porous structure but also induces a unique Feδ+–Ruδ− synergistic interface. This interface optimizes the adsorption of reaction intermediates and activates the interfacial water network, thereby enhancing reaction kinetics while maintaining robustness in complex electrolytes. The findings offer a new design paradigm for Ru-based catalysts, directly tackling the stability and activity bottlenecks that have limited their use in real-world water sources.
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Min Yu, Ziqin Xu, Yuyue Wang, Hao Chen, Kuaibing Wang, Hongjing Zhu, Yi Song, Changyun Chen, Guangxiang Liu (2026). Construction of Feδ+–Ruδ− synergistic interface enabling efficient and stable hydrogen evolution in versatile electrolytes. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2026.94908737
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the specific overpotential and stability of FeRu-ERBC in alkaline seawater and chemical wastewater, and how does it compare to commercial Pt/C?
FeRu-ERBC achieves an overpotential of 22.7 mV at 10 mA·cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, and maintains over 120 hours of stability in both alkaline seawater and chemical wastewater. In these complex electrolytes, it outperforms commercial Pt/C, which typically suffers from rapid deactivation due to chloride ion poisoning and corrosion.
How does the biomass-derived carbon support contribute to the formation of the Feδ+–Ruδ− interface, and what is the evidence for electron transfer?
The carbon support, derived from Equisetum ramosissimum Desf., provides a high specific surface area and hierarchical pores that facilitate mass transport. More critically, it promotes near-complete atomic-level substitution of Fe by Ru, creating an intimate Fe–Ru interface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Bader charge analysis confirm electron transfer from Fe to Ru, resulting in electron-deficient Feδ+ and electron-enriched Ruδ− sites.
What is the mechanistic role of the Feδ+–Ruδ− interface in enhancing HER kinetics, particularly in alkaline media?
The Feδ+–Ruδ− interface optimizes the adsorption behavior of key reaction intermediates (e.g., H*, OH*) and activates the interfacial water network. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that this interface lowers the water dissociation barrier (Volmer step) and tunes the hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔGH) to near-zero, thereby accelerating the overall reaction kinetics.
How does FeRu-ERBC resist chloride ion poisoning and corrosion in seawater and wastewater electrolytes?
The catalyst's stability in chloride-containing electrolytes is attributed to the protective effect of the carbon support and the strong electronic interaction between Fe and Ru. The Feδ+–Ruδ− interface reduces the adsorption of chloride ions, mitigating poisoning, while the robust carbon matrix prevents structural degradation. This is evidenced by over 120 hours of stable operation in alkaline seawater and chemical wastewater.
What are the potential scalability and cost implications of using biomass-derived carbon supports for Ru-based HER catalysts?
Biomass-derived carbon from Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. is abundant and low-cost, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic carbon supports. The synthesis process is scalable, and the high activity (22.7 mV overpotential) and durability (>120 h) could reduce the overall cost of green hydrogen production by enabling use of seawater and wastewater, thus lowering freshwater and purification costs.
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