Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution on Ru‐Modified Cu 1.8 Se/Cu 2 Se Catalysts in Alkaline Media

The development of efficient and cost‐effective electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is essential for sustainable hydrogen production. Although platinum (Pt) remains the benchmark catalyst due to its near‐optimal hydrogen adsorption free energy (Δ G H* ), its high cost and scarcity hinder large‐scale applications. Ruthenium (Ru), which exhibits Pt‐like hydrogen binding characteristics, has emerged as a promising alternative; however, it remains a precious metal, necessitating strategies that minimize its usage while maintaining catalytic efficiency. Here, Ru‐modified Cu 1.8 Se/Cu 2 Se heterostructured nanosheets are reported that promote HER kinetics through interfacial electronic modulation and increased active site accessibility. The synthesis of Ru‐modified copper selenides (Cu 1.8 Se/Cu 2 Se@Ru) is reported via solvothermal–annealing method and their HER performance in alkaline media. A mere 2.1 wt% Ru addition achieved a low overpotential of 169 mV at 10 mA cm −2 , outperforming pristine (673 mV), 7.4 wt% Ru addition (281 mV), and 11.2 wt% Ru addition (372 mV). Additionally, it exhibits excellent stability for 12 h with negligible degradation. Poststability X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicates synergistic electronic interactions between Ru and Cu active sites, thus enhancing hydrogen adsorption/desorption. This work highlights Ru‐modified copper selenides as a promising pathway for developing efficient and durable HER catalysts as alternatives to Pt‐based systems.