Review and perspectives on ruthenium-based cathode catalyst for water electrolysis

In recent years, with the depletion of traditional energy sources and the increasing prominence of environmental issues, hydrogen as a new energy source has become a highly promising alternative that has attracted widespread concern due to its renewable, environmentally friendly, and clean characteristics. Consequently, the development of high-performance catalysts for electrochemical water splitting has emerged as a critical research frontier in advancing sustainable hydrogen production technologies. Normally, platinum (Pt) is widely regarded as the most effective catalyst for hydrogen generation through water electrolysis. However, its high cost, scarcity source, and unstable performance as a catalyst restrain its wide application. In contrast, ruthenium (Ru) has hydrogen bonding capabilities comparable to those of platinum-based materials but is significantly more cost-effective. Additionally, Ru-based materials exhibit excellent durability. Therefore, Ru is considered to be among the most promising catalysts for electrochemical water splitting to produce hydrogen. Here, we first give a brief overview of the reaction mechanism and catalyst evaluation criteria for hydrogen production from water electrolysis. Then, review the Ru-based catalysts with excellent performance that have been investigated recently. Finally, summarize the difficulties in the research of Ru-based catalysts and give an outlook on their future development.

Graphical Abstract

The development of HER catalysts with high performance and low cost is extremely important for the industrialization of for the industrialization of electrochemical water splitting. This section first introduces the fundamental principles of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and Ru-loaded materials supported on various carriers. Finally, the challenges and prospects of ruthenium-based catalysts are discussed.