Engineering Ru-based electrocatalysts for efficient electrocatalytic water splitting

Electrolysis of water splitting is a clean and sustainable method for hydrogen production without the consumption of fossil fuels or the emission of carbon dioxide. Although a series of non-precious metal catalysts have been developed, they still cannot match the performance of precious metal catalysts in water electrolysis. Ruthenium (Ru), as a noble metal with an ideal cost-to-performance ratio and stable activity, is widely utilized by researchers. However, Ru-sites of electrocatalysts still face several challenges, such as size optimization, structural instability, and electronic structure regulation. This article reviews the design strategies on engineering Ru-based electrocatalysts for efficient water electrolysis, such as atomic-level dispersion, alloying, framework effect, doping, defect engineering, and interface design. And the application progress of precious metal catalysts in the seawater electrolysis was further reviewed and analyzed. These design strategies and their unique advantages provide a valuable theoretical foundation for the future application of Ru-based catalysts in hydrogen production via water electrolysis.