Mn‐Oxygen Compounds Coordinated Ruthenium Sites with Deprotonated and Low Oxophilic Microenvironments for Membrane Electrolyzer‐Based H ₂‐Production

Abstract

Among the platinum‐group metals, ruthenium (Ru), with a low water dissociation energy, is considered a promising alternative to substitute Pt for catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, optimizing the adsorption–desorption energies of H ^* and OH ^* intermediates on Ru catalytic sites is extremely desirable but remains challenging. Inspired by the natural catalytic characteristics of Mn‐oxygen complex, this study reports to design Mn‐oxygen compounds coordinated Ru sites (MOC‐Ru) with deprotonated and low oxophilic microenvironments for modulating the adsorption–desorption of H ^* and OH ^* to promote HER kinetics. Benefiting from the unique advantages of MOC structures, including weakened HOH bond at interface, electron donation ability, and deprotonation capability, the MOC‐Ru exhibits extremely low overpotential and ultralong stability in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes. Experimental observations and theoretical calculations elucidate that the MOC can accelerate water dissociation kinetics and promote OH ^* desorption in alkaline conditions and trigger the long‐range H ^* spillover for H ₂‐release in acid conditions. The outstanding activity and stability of membrane electrolyzer display that the MOC‐Ru catalyst holds great potential as cathode for H ₂‐production. This study provides essential insights into the crucial roles of deprotonated and low oxophilic microenvironments in HER catalysis and offers a new pathway to create an efficient water‐splitting cathode.