Twin-distortion modulated ultra-low coordination PtRuNi-Ox catalyst for enhanced hydrogen production from chemical wastewater

The development of efficient and robust catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction is crucial for advancing the hydrogen economy. In this study, we demonstrate that ultra-low coordinated hollow PtRuNi-Ox nanocages exhibit superior catalytic activity and stability across varied conditions, notably surpassing commercial Pt/C catalysts. Notably, the PtRuNi-Ox catalysts achieve current densities of 10 mA cm−2 at only 19.6 ± 0.1, 20.9 ± 0.1, and 21.0 ± 0.1 mV in alkaline freshwater, chemical wastewater, and seawater, respectively, while maintaining satisfied stability with minimal activity loss after 40,000 cycles. In situ experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that the ultra-low coordination of Pt, Ru, and Ni atoms creates numerous dangling bonds, which lower the water dissociation barrier and optimizing hydrogen adsorption. This research marks a notable advancement in the precise engineering of atomically dispersed multi-metallic centers in catalysts for energy-related applications. Efficient catalysts are key to advancing the hydrogen economy, particularly for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Here, the authors report that ultra-low coordinated hollow PtRuNi-Ox nanocages offer comparable catalytic performance and stability in both freshwater and wastewater conditions.