Creating a high concentration of local acidic proton environmental in the absence of a Lewis acid layer is challenging for alkaline seawater hydrogen spillover. Herein, we introduce a synergistic strategy by creating both nano-scale and atomically local electric fields to generate a high concentration of a local acid-like environment. This is demonstrated by incorporating atomically dispersed multiple Ru nanoparticles (Ru NPs) in CoxPv@C surface. Finite element method (FEM) simulations and advanced characterizations illustrate that the nano-scale and atomically local electric fields promote the formation of a significant number of H3O+, creating a local acid-like environment around the surface of multiple Ru NPs. And a smaller work function difference (ΔΦ) of 0.05 eV between Ru and CoxP@C is found to be favorable for interfacial hydrogen spillover. In situ Raman spectroscopy confirms that the formed P-H bond acts as a proton “sponge”, storing H⁺ and quickly transferring them to the Ru NPs surface, where they combine with adjacent H2O molecules to form H3O+, thus promoting hydrogen spillover. Additionally, the carbon layer and the inherent corrosion resistance of CoxPv@C can effectively protect the Ru NPs from the toxicity and corrosion caused by Cl-. Consequently, the Ru-CoxPv@C catalyst exhibits a long-term stability of 200 h at 10 mA cm2 in alkaline seawater electrolyte.
