Bimetallic nanoalloys planted on super-hydrophilic carbon nanocages featuring tip-intensified hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis

The insufficient availability and activity of interfacial water remain a major challenge for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, we propose an “on-site disruption and near-site compensation” strategy to reform the interfacial water hydrogen bonding network via deliberate cation penetration and catalyst support engineering. This concept is validated using tip-like bimetallic RuNi nanoalloys planted on super-hydrophilic and high-curvature carbon nanocages (RuNi/NC). Theoretical simulations suggest that tip-induced localized concentration of hydrated K+ facilitates optimization of interfacial water dynamics and intermediate adsorption. In situ synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy endorses an H*…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 2022YFA1505700, 22205232, 21601187, 22222801
• CA
  Chinese Academy of Sciences

  Awards: CXZX-2022-JQ06, CASSHB-QNPD-2023-020
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province

  Awards: 2023J01213, 2023J06044
• NS
  National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center

  Award: BL12B2
• FI
  Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter

  Award: CXZX-2022-JQ06
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Awards: 2019YFA0210403, 2022YFA1505700, -2022