Surface distortion of FeRu nanoparticles improves the hydrogen evolution reaction performance in alkaline media.

Rational design of electrocatalysts, including an increased catalytic surface area, a unique surface structure, and improved conductivity, for facilitating the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is emerging as an important issue. In this work, we consider the engineering of catalyst surfaces as an effective and feasible way to accelerate the HER kinetics. By etching the surface Fe of FeRu alloy nanoparticles (NPs) using hydrofluoric acid (HF), a distorted catalytic surface of FeRu NPs was formed.