Engineering of Stabilized Ru‐Based Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a promising blueprint for the industrial production of green hydrogen in the short term, but its large-scale deployment is extremely constrained by the high cost and low storage of Ir-dependent anode catalysts. Ru-based PEMWE, employing Ru-based composites as anode catalysts, has emerged as a promising alternative to Ir-dependent PEMWE in recent years, offering lower electrolytic voltages and improved cost-effectiveness. However, the practical application of Ru-based PEMWE is hindered by stability degradation involving Ru-based catalyst dissolution, membrane chemical degradation, corrosion of porous transport layer and bipolar plate, and the interactions between them. In this review, the stability degradation mechanisms from Ru-based catalyst to other core components to the cell system alongside the mutual effects of core components are systematically sorted out. The stability synergistic optimization strategies are subsequently discussed, ranging from individual components to system-level comprehensive consideration, for the engineering of a stable Ru-based PEMWE system. Finally, the outlook is provided based on the promising development direction and key scientific challenge for Ru-based PEMWE system, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and technical reference for the design of highly stable and low-cost Ru-based PEMWE system by integrating industry-aligned standards and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in system engineering.