Interface-Engineered RuP2/Mn2P2O7 Heterojunction on N/P Co-Doped Carbon for High-Performance Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution

Developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, we report a novel RuP2/Mn2P2O7heterojunction anchored on a three-dimensional nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped porous carbon (RuP2/Mn2P2O7/NPC) framework as a high-performance HER catalyst, synthesized via a controlled pyrolysis–phosphidation strategy. The heterostructure achieves uniform dispersion of ultrafine RuP2/Mn2P2O7heterojunctions with well-defined interfaces. Furthermore, phosphorus doping restructures the electronic configuration of Mn and Ru species at the RuP2/Mn2P2O7heterointerface, enabling enhanced catalytic activity through the accelerated electron transfer and kinetics of the HER. This RuP2/Mn2P2O7/NPC catalyst exhibits exceptional HER activity with 1 M KOH, requiring only 69 mV of overpotential to deliver 10 mA·cm−2and displaying a small Tafel slope of 69 mV·dec−1, rivaling commercial 20% Pt/C. Stability tests reveal negligible activity loss over 48 h, underscoring the robustness of the heterostructure. The RuP2/Mn2P2O7heterojunction demonstrates markedly reduced overpotentials for the electrochemical HER process, highlighting its enhanced catalytic efficiency and improved cost-effectiveness compared to the conventional catalytic systems. This work establishes a strategy for designing a transition metal phosphide heterostructure through interfacial electronic modulation, offering broad implications for energy conversion technologies.