Electrochemical Lithiation Regulates the Active Hydrogen Supply on Ru–Sn Nanowires for Hydrogen Evolution Toward the High-Performing Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer

Designing a rational electrocatalyst/electrolyte interface with superb active hydrogen supply is of significant importance for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs). Here, we propose a strategy to tune the interfacial active hydrogen supply via inducing dissoluble cation into electrocatalysts to boost HER in alkali, with electrochemical lithiated sub-2 nm RuSn0.8 nanowires (NWs) as a proof of concept. It is found that a part of Li+ could dissolve in situ from lithiated RuSn0.8 NWs during HER, which tends to affect the interfacial structure and facilitate the proton transport. Among all the Li–Ru–Sn and Ru–Sn NWs, the best-performing Li3.0RuSn0.8…

• UO
  University of Technology Sydney
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22479056, 22122202, U24A20499
• HU
  Huazhong University of Science and Technology
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Award: 2021YFA1600800