Ultrasmall Ru Nanoparticles Highly Dispersed on Sulfur-Doped Graphene for HER with High Electrocatalytic Performance

Nanostructuring and metal–support interactions have been explored as effective methods to improve the electrocatalytic activity in heterogeneous catalysis. In this study, we have fabricated ultrasmall Ru nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed on S-doped graphene (denoted as Ru/S-rGO) by a facile “one-pot” procedure. The experimental results indicated that both the S doping and moderate degree of oxidization of GO can induce the formation and high dispersion of the ultrasmall Ru NPs with larger electrochemically active surface areas for exposing more active sites. Metal–support interaction between S-doped graphene and Ru NPs was observed from the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electronic charge-difference studies. It resulted in the decrease in the electron density of Ru, which facilitated electron release from H2O and H–OH bond breakage. The results of density functional theory calculation confirmed that the S-dopants could reduce the energy barrier for breaking the H–OH bond to accelerate water dissociation during the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). At a current density 20 mA cm–2, the lowest overpotential of 14 mV, superior to that of Pt/C in alkaline solution, was observed for Ru/S-rGO-24. The observed lowest value of overpotential was because of the ultrasmall size, high dispersion, and metal–support interaction. This work provides a simple and effective method in designing advanced electrocatalysts for the HER in an alkaline electrolyte.