Oxalate metal-organic framework derived atomic Ru³⁺-doped Co(OH)₂ nanosheets for a highly efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Atomic Ru-doped cobalt hydroxides (Ru-Co(OH)(2)) are prepared from atomic Ru-doped oxalate metal-organic frameworks. There is a strong electronic interaction between Co and Ru atoms. In addition, the incorporation of Ru3+ favors the formation of well-defined two-dimensional nanosheets and thus greatly increased the electrochemically active surface area of the catalyst. The as-prepared Ru-Co(OH)(2) with a Ru mass loading of 5.1 wt% exhibits the highest intrinsic activity and the best catalytic performance towards the hydrogen evolution reaction, showing a very small overpotential of 36 mV at 30 mA cm(-2) in 1.0 M KOH, which surpasses that of the Pt/C catalyst.