Bridging Acidic and Alkaline Hydrogen Electrocatalysis via Ru‐Modified Pt <sub>3</sub> Co for Waste‐to‐Energy Electrochemical Neutralization Fuel Cells
Abstract
ABSTRACT The hydrogen oxidation (HOR) and hydrogen evolution (HER) reactions define the core of hydrogen electrochemistry, yet demand distinct control over hydroxyl binding and interfacial water structuring. Here, we engineer a ruthenium single‐atom anchored Pt 3 Co intermetallic on nitrogen‐doped carbon (O‐Pt 3 Co‐RuNC) to bridge this divide. The catalyst delivers a mass activity 4.1 times higher than Pt/C for alkaline HOR with only 9.3% CO‐induced loss, while simultaneously exhibiting remarkable activity for acidic HER, thus establishing a rare cross‐environment bifunctional platform. Leveraging this property, we design an electrochemical neutralization energy fuel cell (ENFC) that converts acid—base neutralization energy directly into electricity. Using O‐Pt 3 Co‐RuNC as both anode and cathode catalyst, the ENFC achieves a peak power density of 75.0 mW cm − 2 and stable operation beyond 400 h while simultaneously neutralizing waste acid and alkali. Operando spectroscopy and theoretical analyses reveal that Ru atoms electronically reprogram adjacent Co sites, strengthening hydrogen bonding in interfacial water and accelerating proton‐coupled electron transfer. This study offers a blueprint for constructing hydrogen electrocatalysts and hybrid fuel cells that harmonize activity, durability, and sustainable resource utilization.
Article Details
Authors (9)
Yiran Lin
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Techniques toward Hydrogen Energy Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou Fujian China
Songheng Xie
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Techniques toward Hydrogen Energy Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou Fujian China
Kai Chen
Junxiang Chen
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Techniques Toward Hydrogen Energy
Biyu Kang
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Techniques toward Hydrogen Energy Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou Fujian China
Huibing Wang
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Techniques toward Hydrogen Energy Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou Fujian China
Zhiwen Lu
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Techniques Toward Hydrogen Energy
Junheng Huang
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Techniques Toward Hydrogen Energy
Zhenhai Wen
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Techniques Toward Hydrogen Energy