Programmable self-heating synthesis of ultrafine RuMn oxide nanoclusters for efficient oxygen evolution

The fabrication processes of self-supported OER electrode with enhanced flexibility and universality hold great significance for meeting the practical requirements on high throughput and compatibility in industrial scenarios. The electro-thermal conversion under non-stationary equilibrium conditions is expected to achieve surface composition and morphological modulation of metallic nanostructured catalysts. Herein, a programmable self-heating strategy is reported to fabricate carbon-based ultrafine amorphous RuMn-oxide nanoclusters supported on nickel foam substrate, in which rapid surface conduction and non-equilibrium thermal treatment facilitated efficient chemical immobilization and oxidation . The obtained RuMn/XC-30W sample displays a superior electrocatalytic performance toward oxygen evolution, reaching current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm −2 at an extraordinarily low overpotential of 194 and 270 mV in 1 M KOH, along with a small Tafel slope of 67.17 mV dec −1 . The long-term stability could also be certified by the minimal activity degradation under 24 h of operation. The excellent electrocatalytic performance are attributed to the strong electronic interactions and increased exposure of electrochemically active sites generated by rapid self-heating thermal process. This strategy presents a novel avenue for the design of self-supported electrodes in water electrocatalysis and various sustainable energy applications.