Recent progress in Ru electrocatalyst design for acidic oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis (PEMWE) offers a sustainable approach to addressing global energy and environmental challenges by efficiently producing clean hydrogen from intermittent renewable energy sources. A primary limitation of PEMWE lies in the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which involves a slow four-electron transfer process. Ru-based catalysts play a crucial role in overcoming this kinetic barrier but suffer from insufficient acidic OER activity and long-term stability. This review first examines the fundamental mechanisms of acidic OER, emphasizing the reaction pathways and degradation processes specific to Ru-based catalysts. Building on these insights, we propose several strategies to enhance catalytic performance, including structural modifications, elemental doping, support material optimization, and regulation of the OER pathway. This review also assesses the real-world efficacy of Ru-based catalysts in practical electrolyzer systems. Finally, the unresolved challenges and potential research directions for advancing Ru-based OER catalysts for scalable hydrogen production are discussed.