The In-situ Growth of Ru Modified CoP Nanoflakes on Carbon Clothes as Efficient Electrocatalysts for HER**

Exploring highly efficient, durable and low-cost catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial to promoting the development of electrochemical water splitting systems but remains challenging. In this work, the Ru-modified CoP nanoflakes on carbon clothes (Ru-CoP/CC) are fabricated via an in-situ hydrothermal method, followed by low-temperature phosphatized treatments. According to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, the Ru doping induces the electron deviation from Ru to Co-P, and makes Co ions be an electron-rich state. It is revealed that the introduction of Ru can effectually reconstruct the electron coordination environment of Co-P. The resultant Ru-CoP/CC catalyst shows outstanding HER performance with an ultralow overpotential of 45 mV at 10 mA cm(-2). Moreover, the obtained catalyst exhibits long-term durability at 20 mA cm(-2) for 20 h in the alkaline solution. This work opens a new avenue to lower the usage of noble metal in electrocatalyst and helps to developing a high-performance electrocatalyst for HER.

Automated summary

In this study, Ru-modified CoP nanoflakes on carbon clothes were fabricated via an in-situ hydrothermal method and showed outstanding HER performance and long-term durability. The introduction of Ru effectively reconstructed the electron coordination environment of Co-P, providing a new avenue for developing high-performance electrocatalysts for HER.