Mixed-valence Ru nanoparticles anchored on N-rich metal-phthalocyanine/graphene vdW heterostructures for hydrogen-bond-assisted alkaline hydrogen evolution

O adsorption on Ru nanoparticles, and the electronic coupling between Ru nanoparticles and phthalocyanine matrix weakens *OH binding, effectively lowering the overall HER barrier. This work elucidates the full alkaline HER pathway involving all key intermediates and opens a new avenue for the design of pyrolysis-free Ru-based HER catalysts.