Interface-Strengthened Ru-Based Electrocatalyst for High-Efficiency Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis at Industrial-Level Current Density.

Developing an OER electrocatalyst that balances high performance with low cost is crucial for widely adopting PEM water electrolyzers. Ru-based catalysts are gaining attention for their cost-effectiveness and high activity, positioning them as promising alternatives to Ir-based catalysts. However, Ru-based catalysts can be prone to oxidation at high potentials, compromising their durability. In this study, we utilize a simple synthesis method to synthesize a SnO, NbO, and RuO composite catalyst (SnO/NbO@RuO) with multiple interfaces and abundant oxygen vacancies. The large surface area and numerous active sites of the SnO/NbO@RuO catalyst lead to outstanding acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance, achieving current densities of 10, 50, and 200 mA cm at ultralow overpotentials of 287, 359, and 534 mV, respectively, significantly surpassing commercial IrO. Moreover, incorporating NbO into the SnO/NbO@RuO alters the electronic structure at the interfaces and generates a high density of oxygen vacancies, markedly enhancing durability. Consequently, the membrane electrode composed of SnO/NbO@RuO and commercial Pt/C demonstrated stable operation in the PEM cell for 25 days at an industrial current density of 1 A cm. This research presents a convenient approach for developing a highly efficient and durable Ru-based electrocatalyst, underscoring its potential for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis.