Amorphous/Crystalline Heterojunction Engineered High‐Density Strain in RuSeTe for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

G Guo‐Qiang Liu (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) Y Yi‐Da Zhang (National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) X Xiao‐Long Zhang (Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 P.R. China) C Chao‐Gang Wang (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China) Y Yi Li L Liang Wu C Chao Gu (Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University) X Xu‐Sheng Zheng (National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) M Min‐Rui Gao (Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 P.R. China) S Shu‐Hong Yu (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The efficiency and durability of electrocatalysts for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are impeded by high overpotentials and sluggish kinetics, limiting their practical application. Here, we present a novel class of RuSeTe‐based electrocatalysts featuring high‐density tensile strain induced by amorphous/crystalline heterojunctions, where the strain distribution density is precisely regulated via interface length manipulation. Theoretical and experimental analyses reveal that the tensile strain optimizes the d‐band center and water adsorption energy, significantly reducing the energy barrier of the Volmer step. The optimized RuSeTe catalyst achieves an ultralow overpotential of 20 mV at 10 mA cm − 2 and a Tafel slope of 33 mV dec − 1 in alkaline media, outperforming state‐of‐the‐art Ru‐based chalcogenides. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibits sustained durability for 1100 h (>45 days) at a current density of 100 mA cm −2 , maintaining a nearly constant potential throughout the test. This work proposes a universal strategy for inducing high‐density strain through amorphous/crystalline heterointerface engineering, offering new insights into designing efficient and stable HER catalysts.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 16
Published March 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

G

Guo‐Qiang Liu

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

Y

Yi‐Da Zhang

National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

X

Xiao‐Long Zhang

Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 P.R. China

C

Chao‐Gang Wang

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China

Y

Yi Li

L

Liang Wu

C

Chao Gu

Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University

X

Xu‐Sheng Zheng

National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

M

Min‐Rui Gao

Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 P.R. China

S

Shu‐Hong Yu

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China