Ru-doped NiCoSe multi-transition metal selenides as advanced catalysts for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Hydrogen energy is a critical resource for achieving a sustainable future due to its clean nature, emitting only water as a byproduct. Among various hydrogen production techniques, electrochemical water splitting is considered a green and scalable technology. However, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a major kinetic bottleneck due to its sluggish four-electron transfer mechanism, necessitating the development of efficient and stable electrocatalysts. In this work, we report the synthesis of Ru-doped NiCoSe (Ru–NiCoSe/NF) catalysts on nickel foam (NF) via a straightforward hydrothermal method followed by Ru incorporation. The rational design leverages the synergy between multimetallic transition metal selenides and Ru doping, where Ru enhances intrinsic catalytic activity by modulating the electronic structure and optimizing the adsorption energy of OER intermediates. The Ru–NiCoSe/NF catalyst achieves excellent OER performance with a low overpotential of 285 mV at 50 mA cm−2 and 360 mV at 100 mA cm−2, significantly outperforming the undoped NiCo-LDH/NF. Furthermore, it demonstrates the lowest Tafel slope (230 mV dec−1), high electrochemical surface area (Cdl = 17.2 mF cm−2), and the lowest charge transfer resistance among all tested samples. The turnover frequency (TOF) analysis confirms higher intrinsic activity of Ru–NiCoSe/NF, while long-term chronopotentiometry reveals stable operation at various current densities. This study highlights the promising role of Ru doping in engineering multi-transition metal selenide catalysts and offers insights into designing next-generation electrocatalysts for energy-efficient water oxidation. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd