Chinese Journal of Catalysis

Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2026, Vol. 84: 80-95.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65023-1

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Dual-engine active centers of Ru single atoms and nanoclusters synergistically enhancing hydrogen evolution reaction

Peilin Liua, Xiaqing Zhuanga, Tianze Cuia, Zisen Weia, Hua Xuc, Ruolin Zhangc, Yuqi Yangd(), Jiaqing Luod(), Weiyu Songa,b, Yunpeng Liue,f(), Yu Konge,g, Zhenxing Lib, Zhen Zhaob,h, Jian Liub,i, Yuanqing Suna,b()   

  1. a Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Optical Detection Technology, and Basic Research Center for Energy Interdisciplinary, School of Science, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
    b State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
    c Petrochemical Research Institute, PetroChina Company Limited, Beijing 102206 China
    d State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing at Karamay, China University of Petroleum Beijing at Karamay, Karamay 834000, Xinjiang, China
    e Multi-disciplinary Research Division, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    f University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    g College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
    h Institute of Catalysis for Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, Liaoning, China
    i School of Petrochemical Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University, Fushun 113001, Liaoning, China
  • Received:2025-10-01 Accepted:2025-12-29 Online:2026-05-18 Published:2026-04-16
  • Contact: *E-mail: yqsun@cup.edu.cn (Y. Sun),
    yuqiyang@cupk.edu.cn (Y. Yang),
    luojiaqing@cupk.edu.cn (J. Luo),
    liuyunpeng@ihep.ac.cn (Y. Liu).
  • Supported by:
    authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFA1501304);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22035009);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22122113)

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Abstract:

The integration of multiple active sites has been demonstrated to significantly enhance the electrocatalytic performance of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the precise construction of synergistic SAs/NCs sites and a thorough understanding of their reaction mechanisms remain challenging. Herein, a straightforward synthetic strategy is developed for the fabrication of Ru SAs and NCs supported on nitrogen-doped carbon spheres derived from m-aminophenol/formaldehyde resin (denoted as Ru1-n@AFCS), achieved by tuning the ratio of resorcinol to m-aminophenol during phenolic resin polymerization. The optimized Ru1-n@AFCS HER performance in alkaline media, requiring an overpotential of only 11.2 mV to achieve 10 mA cm-2 and displaying a mass activity of 5158.2 A g-1, which is 60 times higher than that of commercial 20% Pt/C (85.4 A g-1) at -0.025 V vs. RHE. When integrated into an anion-exchange-membrane water electrolyzer, the catalyst achieves a current density of 1 A cm-2 at 1.80 V with a remarkable noble metal mass activity of 55.2 A mg-Ru-1. Combined experimental and theoretical calculations reveal that the nitrogen-doped carbon support modulates electronic structure of Ru NCs, while adjacent isolated Ru SAs facilitate hydrogen transfer via strong hydroxyl adsorption, collectively forming a “dual-engine” catalytic center that significantly enhances alkaline HER performance.

Key words: Single atoms, Nanoclusters, Dual-engines, Hydrogen evolution reaction, Anion-exchange-membrane water electrolyzer