Significantly Enhanced Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction Performance of RuO2 Nanoparticles by Introducing Oxygen Vacancy with Polytetrafluoroethylene

The supported RuO₂ catalysts are known for their synergistic and interfacial effects, which significantly enhance both catalytic activity and stability. However, polymer-supported RuO₂ catalysts have received limited attention due to challenges associated with poor conductivity. In this study, we successfully synthesized the RuO₂-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) catalyst via a facile annealing process. The optimized nucleation and growth strategies enable the formation of RuO₂ particles (~13.4 nm) encapsulating PTFE, establishing a conductive network that effectively addresses the conductivity issue. Additionally, PTFE induces the generation of oxygen vacancies and the formation of stable RuO₂/PTFE interfaces, which further enhance the acidic OER activity and the stability of RuO₂. As a result, the RuO₂-PTFE catalyst exhibits a low overpotential of 219 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² in the three-electrode system, and the voltage of the RuO₂-PTFE||commercial Pt/C system can keep 1.50 V for 800 h at 10 mA cm^-2. This work underscores the versatility of PTFE as a substrate for fine-tuning the catalyst morphology, the crystal defect, and the stable interface outerwear. This work not only broadens the application scope of PTFE in catalyst synthesis but also provides a novel approach to the design of high-performance metallic oxide catalysts with tailored oxygen vacancy concentration and stable polymer outerwear.