Ruthenium Ion-Complexed Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide as High-Performance Catalysts for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution.

Title Ruthenium Ion-Complexed Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide as High-Performance Catalysts for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution.
Authors Y. Peng; W. Pan; N. Wang; J.E. Lu; S. Chen
Journal ChemSusChem
DOI 10.1002/cssc.201701880
Abstract

Carbon-based materials are promising, low-cost electrocatalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), although the catalytic performance needs to be further improved before commercialization. In this study, ruthenium ions are incorporated into graphitic carbon nitride/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrids to form Ru-C3 N4 /rGO composites through Ru-N coordination bonds. The incorporation of Ru ions, at a loading of 1.93?at.?%, leads to electron redistribution within the materials and dramatically enhances the HER performance over those of C3 N4 , C3 N4 /rGO, and Ru-C3 N4 , with an overpotential of only -80?mV to reach a current density of 10?mA?cm-2 , a Tafel slope of 55?mV?dec-1 , and an exchange current density of 0.462?mA?cm-2 . This performance is comparable to that of Pt/C, and ascribed to the positive shift of the conduction band of the composite, where the charge carrier density increases by a factor of about 250 over that of C3 N4 , leading to a lower energy barrier for hydrogen evolution. The results suggest a new strategy in the design and engineering of functional nanocomposites for effective HER electrocatalysis by embedding select metal ions into carbon-based molecular skeletons.

Citation Y. Peng; W. Pan; N. Wang; J.E. Lu; S. Chen.Ruthenium Ion-Complexed Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide as High-Performance Catalysts for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution.. ChemSusChem. 2018;11(1):130136. doi:10.1002/cssc.201701880

Related Elements

Ruthenium

See more Ruthenium products. Ruthenium (atomic symbol: Ru, atomic number: 44) is a Block D, Group 8, Period 5 element with an atomic weight of 101.07. Ruthenium Bohr ModelThe number of electrons in each of ruthenium's shells is [2, 8, 18, 15, 1] and its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d7 5s1. The ruthenium atom has a radius of 134 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 207 pm. Ruthenium was discovered by Jędrzej Śniadecki in 1807. It was first recognized as a distinct element by Karl Ernst Claus in 1844. Elemental RutheniumIn its elemental form, ruthenium has a silvery white metallic appearance. Ruthenium is a rare transition metal belonging to the platinum group of metals. It is found in pentlandite, pyroxenite, and platinum group metal ores. The name Ruthenium originates from the Latin word "Ruthenia," meaning Russia.

Nitrogen

See more Nitrogen products. Nitrogen is a Block P, Group 15, Period 2 element. Its electron configuration is [He]2s22p3. Nitrogen is an odorless, tasteless, colorless and mostly inert gas. It is the seventh most abundant element in the universe and it constitutes 78.09% (by volume) of Earth's atmosphere. Nitrogen was discovered by Daniel Rutherford in 1772.

Carbon

See more Carbon products. Carbon (atomic symbol: C, atomic number: 6) is a Block P, Group 14, Period 2 element. Carbon Bohr ModelThe number of electrons in each of Carbon's shells is 2, 4 and its electron configuration is [He]2s2 2p2. In its elemental form, carbon can take various physical forms (known as allotropes) based on the type of bonds between carbon atoms; the most well known allotropes are diamond, graphite, amorphous carbon, glassy carbon, and nanostructured forms such as carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and nanofibers . Carbon is at the same time one of the softest (as graphite) and hardest (as diamond) materials found in nature. It is the 15th most abundant element in the Earth's crust, and the fourth most abundant element (by mass) in the universe after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen. Carbon was discovered by the Egyptians and Sumerians circa 3750 BC. It was first recognized as an element by Antoine Lavoisier in 1789.

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