Highly-dispersed ruthenium precursors via a self-assembly-assisted synthesis of uniform ruthenium nanoparticles for superior hydrogen evolution reaction

For the first time, highly-dispersed ruthenium precursors via a hydrogen-bond-driven melamine–cyanuric acid supramolecular complex (denoted CAM) self-assembly-assisted synthesis of uniform ruthenium nanoparticles with superior HER performance under both acidic and alkaline conditions are reported. Electrochemical tests reveal that when the current density is −10 mA cm−2, the optimal Ru/CNO electrocatalyst could express low overpotentials of −18 mV and −46 mV, low Tafel slopes of 46 mV dec−1 and 100 mV dec−1, in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH, respectively. The remarkable HER performance could be attributed to uniform ruthenium with the aid of highly dispersed ruthenium precursors (Ru–CAM) and subsequent annealing results in uniform ruthenium nanoparticles.