Enhanced hydrogen evolution performance by 3D ordered macroporous Ru-CoP@NC electrocatalysts

Electrocatalytic water splitting coupled with sustainable energies is identified as an environmentally friendly and renewable strategy to generate high-quality hydrogen for the fuel cells. However, the main challenge is to develop high performance, low cost and chemically stable electrocatalysts to decline the energy barriers and enhance the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a three-dimensional hierarchically ordered macroporous Ru-CoP@NC electrocatalyst (3DOM Ru-CoP@NC) derived from ordered macro-microporous metal–organic frameworks has been prepared using the precursor@template and double-solvent methods. The prepared 3DOM Ru-CoP@NC catalyst exhibits an overpotential of 15 mV ( j  = 10 mA·cm −2 ) and a reaction Tafel slope of 38 mV·dec −1 in alkaline electrolyte, which are superior to commercial Pt@C catalyst. Additionally, the overpotential and reaction Tafel slope of this catalyst in acidic media are 45 mV and 50 mV·dec −1 , respectively. The outstanding HER activities of 3DOM Ru-CoP@NC catalysts are ascribed to the 3D highly interconnected-reticular nanospaces that can increase effective reaction active sites. The N doped carbon framework improves the electronic properties and conductivity. Moreover, the strong interaction of Ru and CoP nanoparticles also boosts the HER process. These results indicate that 3DOM Ru-CoP@NC catalysts with high catalytic activities have a broad application prospect in the future. Graphic abstract