Ru/RuO <sub>2</sub> Heterostructures for Stable and Active Acidic Water Oxidation via Interfacial Charge Redistribution and Lattice‐Oxygen Participation

M Minqian Cheng (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China) H Hanlin Ding S Shiyao Chen S Simin He (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China) S Shitao Min (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry) H HaoCheng Wang Y Yumeng Wang (Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences) F Fulin Li (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China) Z Zhouqing Gu (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China) Y Yixin Zhang A Aiqing Cao (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry) J Jingjin Cheng (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry) Y Yaling Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry) D Dan Kang G Gang Ma Y Yun Hu H Huijun Xin (Ocean Hydrogen Energy R&amp;D Center Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen Shenzhen P. R. China) Y Yun Kuang (Ocean Hydrogen Energy R&D Center) Y Yaping Li (State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry) D Daojin Zhou X Xiaoming Sun

Abstract

ABSTRACT The rational design and synthesis of Ir‐free acidic oxygen evolution catalysts combining high activity with long‐term durability remains a formidable challenge. This work demonstrates an addressable and dopant‐free strategy through the construction of Ru/RuO 2 heterostructures in a solely Ru‐based system, wherein interfacial charge redistribution and lattice‐oxygen participation jointly promote catalytic enhancement. The catalyst delivers an overpotential of 182 mV at 10 mA·cm −2 and retains operational durability for over 270 h at 100 mA·cm −2 in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 . Spectroscopic characterizations, including X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), coupled with theoretical calculations, elucidate that interfacial electron transfer from metallic‐Ru phase to RuO 2 phase, assisted by the formation of a built‐in electric field, results in increased work functions across the heterointerface and lowered interfacial Ru oxidation states, suppressing Ru‐site overoxidation into soluble RuO 4 and accounting for the exceptional durability. Lattice‐oxygen participation, which corresponds to excellent activity, was verified by operando investigations, including differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), attenuated total reflection surface‐enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR‐SEIRAS), and tetramethylammonium (TMA + ) chemical probing. The overall findings establish heterointerface engineering as a powerful tool for the simultaneous enhancement of the coupled activity‐stability in Ru‐based acidic OER catalysts.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 32
Published August 03, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (21)

M

Minqian Cheng

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China

H

Hanlin Ding

S

Shiyao Chen

S

Simin He

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China

S

Shitao Min

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry

H

HaoCheng Wang

Y

Yumeng Wang

Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

F

Fulin Li

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China

Z

Zhouqing Gu

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China

Y

Yixin Zhang

A

Aiqing Cao

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry

J

Jingjin Cheng

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry

Y

Yaling Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry

D

Dan Kang

G

Gang Ma

Y

Yun Hu

H

Huijun Xin

Ocean Hydrogen Energy R&amp;D Center Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen Shenzhen P. R. China

Y

Yun Kuang

Ocean Hydrogen Energy R&D Center

Y

Yaping Li

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry

D

Daojin Zhou

X

Xiaoming Sun