Recent Advances in the Design of Dual-Doped RuO2 for Efficient and Stable Acidic Oxygen Evolution

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a key process for the large-scale production of green hydrogen. However, its commercialization is hindered by the sluggish kinetics and reliance on precious metal catalysts for the anodic acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Although RuO2 exhibits exceptional intrinsic OER activity, its insufficient stability under harsh acidic and oxidizing conditions severely limits its practical application. The dual-doping strategy, which involves introducing two distinct foreign elements into the RuO2 lattice, is recognized as a superior approach to synergistically enhance both catalytic activity and stability. In light of the rapid progress of research and the evolving theoretical frameworks in this field, this review systematically summarizes recent advances in dual-doped RuO2 catalysts for acidic OER. It begins with an overview of the fundamental OER mechanism in acidic media. And it then focuses on elucidating how the dual-doping strategy enables the precise performance enhancement of the RuO2 catalysts through three synergistic regulation mechanisms: synergistic electronic structure modulation, synergistic reaction pathway optimization, and synergistic defect engineering. Finally, the review concludes by outlining the current challenges facing dual-doped RuO2 catalysts and providing perspectives on their future development.