研究実績の概要 |
We successfully applied redox units of polyaniline (PAni) to in-situ cooperatively assemble highly active Ru nanoclusters in a hierarchically-ordered carbon electrode. There is a selective ion-bonding effect in the redox units of PAni that the oxidized quinonoid imine (QI) can strongly bond Ru complex ions whereas the reduced benzenoid amine (BA) cannot. By optimizing the ratio of QI to BA, Ru complexes were spatially confined in the outer layer of the PAni framework. Carbonization of Ru-PAni hybrid induced nucleation in the outer surface of the carbon support, generating nearly monodisperse Ru nanoclusters. The catalyst had only 2 wt% loading of Ru, but exhibited an ultrahigh mass activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction that is 7 times better than commercial Pt/C catalyst.
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