Highly Dispersed RuRe Heteroclusters Constructed by Dual‐Spillover Pathways for pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution

ABSTRACT

Although anchoring Ru atomic clusters on conductive substrates is considered an effective approach to reduce noble metal usage in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), their catalytic mass activity and durability across full pH media are often limited by sluggish water dissociation kinetics, along with tendencies toward agglomeration or detachment. This study successfully developed a novel catalyst by constructing double overflow effect RuRe heteroclusters (RuRe HCs) on modified carbon supports, significantly enhancing the HER performance in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWE) under alkaline conditions. Combined experimental analysis and theoretical simulations revealed that the covalent‐like Ru–Re interactions formed at the RuRe cluster interface effectively inhibit the agglomeration and detachment of Ru atomic clusters, thereby enhancing the stability of the heteroclusters. Meanwhile, the RuRe HCs promote the adsorption and desorption of hydroxyl and proton species, enabling a nearly barrier‐free water dissociation process, which significantly improves the hydrogen evolution reaction activity. An AEMWE assembled with this catalyst (Ru loading of only 65 µg cm ⁻² ) demonstrated stable operation for over 300 h at an industrial‐grade current density of 1000 mA cm ⁻² and a cell voltage of 1.79 V, with a low voltage decay rate of 72 µV h ⁻¹ .