Abstract:Research on high-performance and low-cost hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts is of great significance for the large-scale development and practical application of hydrogen energy. Using cheaper metals instead of platinum (Pt) to reduce catalyst costs while ensuring HER performance is a current challenge. In this work, we used a facile and controllable method, the spray-drying technique combined with thermal decomposition reduction, to synthesize the catalyst of ruthenium-nickel atomic cluster supported on carbon black (RuNi-ac/C) at a reduction temperature of 300 ℃ in H2. The results show that as-synthesized RuNi atomic clusters are uniformly distributed on the carbon black, with the particle size distribution ranging from 0.5 nm to 2.5 nm. Electrochemical tests indicate that the HER overpotential of RuNi-ac/C is only 37 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm-2 in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 electrolyte. The overpotential is increased by only 2 mV after 4000 cyclic voltammetry cycles in the stability test, demonstrating excellent electrochemical stability. Compared with synthesized Ru/C-300 ℃, Ni/C-400 ℃, and RuNi/C (200, 400, and 500 ℃) catalysts, the RuNi-ac/C has the best HER performance. Furthermore, the RuNi-ac/C has better HRE activity as well as lower cost compared with the commercial Johnson Matthey Pt/C catalyst, providing a new idea for the industrial application of low-cost and high-efficiency HER catalysts.