Authors
Hai-Yi Sun, Chen-Xi Li, Na Xu, Yong-Ming Chai, Bin Dong
Published in
Nanoscale. Jul 14, 2026. Epub Jul 14, 2026.
Abstract
Ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) is regarded as a promising alternative to iridium-based catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) owing to its high intrinsic activity and relatively lower cost. Nevertheless, the activity-stability trade-off induced by competing reaction pathways under harsh acidic conditions severely restricts the large-scale industrial application of RuO2-based catalysts. An in-depth understanding of these reaction pathways is therefore critical for the precise structural design and performance optimization of RuO2-based catalysts. This review systematically summarizes three mainstream OER mechanisms of RuO2 catalysts in acidic environments, namely, the adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), lattice oxygen-mediated mechanism (LOM), and oxide path mechanism (OPM). Subsequently, the recent advances in reaction pathway regulation strategies, such as element doping, heterostructure engineering, and defect engineering, are highlighted with the aim to overcome the activity-stability trade-off. Furthermore, the critical role of in situ characterization technologies during the OER process in identifying the reaction intermediates and dynamic structural evolution is discussed. Finally, the remaining challenges and future directions for achieving precise control and industrial-scale applications are outlined, providing a foundation for designing high-performance, durable RuO2-based catalysts for sustainable hydrogen production.
PMID:
42444420
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Jul 2026.
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