Subnanometric Ru clusters with upshifted D band center improve performance for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract Subnanometric metal clusters usually have unique electronic structures and may display electrocatalytic performance distinctive from single atoms (SAs) and larger nanoparticles (NPs). However, the electrocatalytic performance of clusters, especially the size-activity relationship at the sub-nanoscale, is largely unexplored. Here, we synthesize a series of Ru nanocrystals from single atoms, subnanometric clusters to larger nanoparticles, aiming at investigating the size-dependent activity of hydrogen evolution in alkaline media. It is found that the d band center of Ru downshifts in a nearly linear relationship with the increase of diameter, and the subnanometric Ru clusters with d band center closer…

• SG
  Shenzhen Government
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 21975162, 51902208, U21A20312, 21975162, 51902208
• SU
  Shenzhen University