Stability of Doped Ruthenium Oxide as Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts

Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a promising technology for hydrogen production due to its high efficiency and low operating temperature. Although iridium-based catalysts are traditionally used as anode materials, their scarcity and high cost have shifted scientific attention to ruthenium oxide (RuO2) as a leading anodic electrocatalyst. However, the poor stability of RuO2 under operating conditions limits its practical application. Doping with foreign elements has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance the stability of RuO2-based catalysts by modifying their electronic structure. This review summarizes recent advancements in doped RuO2 catalysts and provides mechanistic insights into the stability enhancements conferred by various dopants. It also discusses key challenges and outlines future perspectives for RuO2-based catalysts, with a focus on facilitating their commercialization in PEMWE systems.