Crystal Phase Engineering Accelerates Hydrogen Reverse Spillover for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Production

Phase engineering of ZrO 2 regulates the electronic metal–support interactions and work function difference between Ru and ZrO 2 , resulting in reverse hydrogen spillover, therefore enhancing electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium. The Ru@ m -ZrO 2 /C catalyst demonstrated a low overpotential and high mass activity (45 times that of commercial 20% Pt/C), and when integrated into an anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer, it exhibited stable operation for over 300 hours.