Dynamic H Migration Pathways Engineered by Ru Dual‐Site Architecture for High‐Performing Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers

The unique Ru_SA-N₂O₂ site-modified carbon support induced enhanced metal-support interactions with Ru clusters. The optimised Ru_SA-N₂O₂ site effectively mitigates the strong H* adsorption around the Ru cluster and achieves rapid H₂ generation as a cathode in highly efficient AEMWE applications.

Abstract

Alkaline anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWE) are promising for clean hydrogen production, yet encounter challenges such as low efficiency and instability at high current densities. Herein, an efficient Ru-based catalyst with a dual-site architecture (Ru NC/Ru_SA–N₂O₂) is reported, for boosting HER in practical AEMWE. The optimized Ru_SA–N₂O₂ sites engineer dynamic H migration pathways that effectively alleviate the strong H* adsorption around Ru clusters, reaching rapid H* desorption. This unique dual-site configuration enables the construction of successive channels of H combination between H* from Ru clusters and Ru_SA-N₂O₂ sites, avoiding the over-adsorption of H* and the overlay of Ru clusters. An AEMWE using Ru NC/Ru_SA–N₂O₂ (with only 80 µg_Ru cm⁻²) can reach 3 A cm⁻² at only 1.82 V and exhibits excellent stability for 600 h with a decay of only 30 µV h⁻¹ (at 1 A cm⁻²). This work highlights the rational design of dual-site architecture regulates H migration dynamics through synergistic mechanisms for activity and stability promotion in AEMWE.