Transition metal M (M = Co, Ni, and Fe) and boron co-modulation in Rh-based aerogels for highly efficient and pH-universal hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis

Although recent studies on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have achieved great progress, it remains a great challenge to fabricate highly efficient pH-universal HER electrocatalysts. In this work, we report the facile synthesis of a new class of Rh-based spongy aerogels co-incorporated with transition metal M (M = Co, Ni, and Fe) and boron atoms through a simple and versatile one-pot wet-chemical strategy. Benefiting from the synergetic effect of 3D network-shaped spongy architectures and the electronic interaction between various elements, the optimized RhCoB aerogels exhibit excellent catalytic activity, stability and durability toward the HER in a wide pH range. The successful synthesis of RhMB aerogels will provide guidelines for designing and synthesizing an unprecedented class of transition metal and/or non-metal atom doped metallic materials toward potential catalysis and energy applications. RhCoB aerogels were successfully synthesized via a facile chemical co-reduction strategy and exhibited excellent catalytic performance toward the hydrogen evolution reaction.