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Interfacial electron redistribution through the Ru-N-Fe bond to stabilize high-valence metal sites for efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution

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  • Wang, Wei
  • Li, Yingwei
  • Wang, Jia
  • Xiao, Rui
  • Liu, Kuanguan
  • Song, Xudong
  • Yu, Guangsuo
  • Ma, Baojun

Abstract

The sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) represents a critical bottleneck in renewable energy technologies, such as water electrolysis. Although RuO2 is the most active material for OER, it suffers from the significant loss in performance due to the over-oxidation of Ru cations. Here, a hybrid FeV oxide/nitride electrocatalyst anchored strategy is creatively proposed to stabilize atomically isolated Ru for outstanding OER activity. The oxidation state of Ru is in high-valence (Run+, n > 4) and remains stable during the OER process. This is realized by the VOx leaching and the electrons redistributed through the interfacial Ru-N-Fe bond. Furthermore, a highly reactive Ru and Fe sites can be generated, which synergistically optimize the reaction thermodynamics and kinetics. These crucial findings offer a simple approach to design cost-efficient, highly catalytic heterogeneous system for OER in renewable energy devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Wei & Li, Yingwei & Wang, Jia & Xiao, Rui & Liu, Kuanguan & Song, Xudong & Yu, Guangsuo & Ma, Baojun, 2025. "Interfacial electron redistribution through the Ru-N-Fe bond to stabilize high-valence metal sites for efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:244:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125003180
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122656
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