In-situ generation of Ru-catechol coordinative polymer precursor for high-performance hydrogen evolution reaction doped carbon catalyst

Abstract We report a coordinative strategy to introduce ruthenium (Ru) into nitrogen, boron co-doped carbon nanomaterials (Ru-NBCs) thus achieving high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity in both alkaline and acidic conditions. Starting from boronate polymer nanospheres prepared by a condensation reaction between catechol and boronic monomers, a Ru3+-catechol coordination reaction can easily produce metallosupramolecular polymer precursors. Ru-NBCs derived from the sintering of these precursors exhibit excellent HER properties with lowest overpotentials of 14 mV in 1.0 M KOH and 22 mV in 0.5 M H2SO4 at a current density of 10 mA/cm2. The mass activity of Ru-NBCs is much higher than that of commercial Pt/C. Meanwhile, the active site density and turnover frequency (TOF) value of Ru-NBCs are studied. This strategy has high adaptability to various catechol and boronic building blocks with different structures, thus showing promising application in the design of high performance metal-incorporated doped carbon materials.