One-step synthesis of atomic Ru doped ultra-thin Co(OH)2 nanosheets for oxygen evolution reaction in different pH values

Herein, atomic Ru doped ultra-thin Co(OH)₂ nanosheet arrays are firstly synthesized by a one-step electrochemical deposition method. Importantly, the obtained electrocatalyst can display excellent activity for oxygen evolution reaction, which only needs 305 mV at 50 mA cm^?2 in 1 M KOH and 261 mV at 10 mA cm^?2 in 0.1 M KOH. Further mechanism studies disclose that the doping of Ru could reduce the thickness of nanosheets and contribute to the generation of active Co³⁺ sites by donating electrons from Co to Ru atoms via the Co–O–Ru bonds. This work paves a simple method to fabricate Co based nanosheet catalyst, which may be extended to the preparation of other highly active electrocatalysts.