Design strategies of ruthenium‐based materials toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract Hydrogen produced from electrocatalytic water splitting means is deemed to be a promising route to construct a low‐carbon, eco‐friendly, and high‐efficiency modern energy system. The design and construction of highly active catalysts with affordable prices toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are effective in accelerating the overall water‐splitting process. So far, ruthenium (Ru) based catalysts deliver comparable or even superior catalytic performance relative to the platinum (Pt)/C benchmark. Combined with their price advantage, Ru‐based catalysts are undoubtedly considered as one of the perfect alternatives of Pt toward the alkaline HER. Extensive efforts have been made to reasonably synthesize Ru‐related materials, but a careful insight into material engineering strategies and induced effects remain in its infancy. In this review, recent progress on the material engineering strategies for improving the catalytic activity of Ru‐related catalysts, including electronic regulation, geometric modulation, local structure alteration, self‐optimization strategies, and the induced structure–activity relationship are comprehensively summarized. Furthermore, the challenges and perspectives on future studies of Ru‐related electrocatalysts for the alkaline HER are also proposed.