Recent advances in Ru-based electrocatalysts toward acid electrochemical water oxidation

Designing efficient, stable, and low-cost oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is topical in promoting the application of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). Iridium (Ir)-based catalysts are the catalysts of choice to date; nevertheless, their high price and scarcity have greatly hampered the widespread utilization of the PEMWE technique. Ruthenium (Ru), at higher earth abundance and lower price, possesses superior catalytic activity to Ir; yet, it is prone to dissolution nature results in inferior stability that cannot be implemented in practical device. In this mini-review, we summarized the recent progress in strategies toward enhancing the activity and stability of Ru-based electrocatalysts, with the correlations between the modification strategies, catalytic activities, and reaction mechanism summarized. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of Ru-based electrocatalysts are discussed.