Scale-up synthesis of RuCoNi hydroxide/sulfide heterostructures in alkali for the industrial current density

Developing efficient and stable water splitting catalysts under industrial conditions is essential for large-scale hydrogen energy production. However, conventional synthesis methods are harsh and can increase energy consumption and cost, and developing methods for large-scale production at ambient temperatures remains challenging. Herein, NiCoRu hydroxide/sulfide heterostructure on nickel foam was synthesized by immersion at room temperature to achieve a high-performance bifunctional catalyst. The synthesized NiCoRu hydroxide/sulfide exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance, requiring an overpotential of 189 mV for OER and 78 mV for HER to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 while showing excellent stability. In contrast, under industrial conditions (6 M KOH at 60 °C), the catalyst only requires an overpotential of 170 mV for OER and 148 mV for HER to achieve a current density of 100 mA cm−2 and can operate stably for long periods. The water splitting system consisting of this catalyst maintains excellent performance and stability under industrial conditions. The catalyst maintains good performance when the synthesis is scaled up. The ability to synthesize on a large scale at room temperature with excellent performance makes this catalyst a potential for industrialization.