Performance of Low-Pressure-Plasma-Processed RuCo Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Chia-Yun Tseng,
Yu-Lun Su,
I-Chih Ni,
Chih-I Wu,
I-Chun Cheng,
Jian-Zhang Chen
Affiliations
Chia-Yun Tseng
Graduate Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan; Advanced Research Center for Green Materials Science and Technology, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan
Yu-Lun Su
Graduate Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan; Advanced Research Center for Green Materials Science and Technology, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan
I-Chih Ni
Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan
Chih-I Wu
Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan; Graduate School of Advanced Technology, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan
I-Chun Cheng
Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan; Innovative Photonics Advanced Research Center (i-PARC), National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan
Graduate Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan; Advanced Research Center for Green Materials Science and Technology, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan; Graduate School of Advanced Technology, National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan; Innovative Photonics Advanced Research Center (i-PARC), National Taiwan University , Taipei City 10617, Taiwan
RuCo/acid-treated nickel foam (ANF) has been reported to be an excellent electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this study, we perform plasma treatment with Ar, Ar/H _2 (95:5), and Ar/O _2 (95:5) as working gases for surface modification to explore the effect on HER performance. The developed electrocatalysts are tested in an alkaline solution (1 M KOH); the results show that Ar/H _2 (95:5) plasma treatment significantly improves the electrocatalytic activity of RuCo/ANF, achieving an overpotential of 98 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm ^−2 . Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry analyses shSow a large reduction in the charge transfer impedance and a significant increase in the electric double-layer capacitance. This study provides a facile strategy to activate RuCo to improve HER performance.
