Modulating hydrogen intermediate on Ru@Mo2C/N-doped carbon fibers boosts ampere-level alkaline/acidic hydrogen evolution performance

Manipulating the electronic structure of heterogeneous catalysts to optimize the adsorption behavior of hydrogen intermediate (H*) is essential for enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), representing a key objective in advancing efficient hydrogen (H 2 ) production. Herein, we have engineered the electronic configuration by coupling ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles with molybdenum carbide (Mo 2 C)/N-doped carbon fibers (NCF) to greatly enhance the electrocatalytic alkaline/acidic-universal HER performance. The obtained Ru@Mo 2 C/NCF catalyst exhibits ultralow overpotentials of 182 and 193 mV at an industrial-grade current density (1 A cm⁻ 2 ) in 1 M KOH and 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 , respectively, significantly surpassing commercial Pt/C and many traditional HER catalysts. The catalyst also demonstrates an exceptional long-term stability in both alkaline and acidic conditions, even greatly better than Pt/C catalyst. Theoretical analysis reveals that the coupling of Ru with Mo 2 C/NCF optimize the H* adsorption and facilitates H 2 releasing. Furthermore, a zinc-water (Zn-H 2 O) battery is assembled to realize highly efficient and simultaneous H 2 and electricity generation, demonstrating its practicability.