RuP2 Nanoparticles Decorated on Natural Cellulose Nanofibrils-Derived N, P Codoped Carbon Matrix for Hydrogen Evolution at Dual pH and Seawater

The exploration of non-Pt catalysts that are highly efficient, durable, and cost-effective for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for enhancing the energy efficiency of water splitting technologies. In this study, we fabricated an electrocatalyst comprising RuP2 nanoparticles decorated on N, P codoped cellulose nanofibers (CNFs)-derived carbon networks (RuP2/NPC) through a simple mixing-pyrolysis strategy. Specifically, the CNFs, which are rich in oxygen-containing functional groups, not only serve as dispersants to prevent the restacking of graphene oxide (GO) and the aggregation of RuP2 nanoparticles, thereby exposing more active sites, but also form a conductive network with GO to facilitate electron transport. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the integration of NPC regulates the electronic structure of RuP2, resulting in a nearly thermoneutral ΔGH* at the Ru site of RuP2/NPC and making the HER process more feasible. Consequently, the synthesized catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity, achieving low overpotentials of 41 mV in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 52 mV in 1.0 M KOH to drive a current density of 10 mA cm–2, while maintaining robust stability. Notably, RuP2/NPC also demonstrates promising performance in alkaline seawater electrolysis, requiring an overpotential of merely 108 mV to support the same level of current density. This research significantly advances the application of CNFs-derived carbon materials in hydrogen production and contributes to the high-value utilization of forestry resources, thereby providing an inspiring avenue for the advancement of efficient and sustainable energy conversion technologies.