Amorphous/crystal interface modulation of RuCoWOx toward alkaline hydrogen evolution

Oxides have traditionally been considered inert in hydrogen evolution reaction due to their strong adsorption of hydrogen. Here, we successfully prepared a novel RuCoWOx-400 catalyst by strategically adjusting the calcination temperature to manipulate the growth of oxide heterointerfaces. The characterization techniques reveal that RuCoWOx-400 is a porous structure and contains multiple heterogeneous interfaces to enhance catalytic activity. Additionally, the as-synthesized RuCoWOx-400 exhibits low overpotential of 93 mV at 10 mA cm −2 coupled with small Tafel slope of 37.22 mV dec −1 in 1 M KOH. Remarkably, the electrochemical performance of RuCoWOx-400 remains stable for up to 50 h. Moreover, the adsorption and desorption of water at Co, W, and Ru sites coordinate the hydrogen evolution reaction, highlighting the unique role of these elements in enhancing catalytic activity. This study underscores the potential of oxide materials in hydrogen evolution reaction, paving the way for further exploration and optimization in this field.