The application of renewable energy conversion devices is considered as one of the effective ways to alleviate the energy shortage and environmental pollution. Designing electrocatalysts with excellent performance and affordable price is promising to accelerate the reaction process and large‐scale application. At present, ruthenium (Ru)‐based nanomaterials have shown similar catalytic activity but superior price demand compared to commercial Pt/C. This undoubtedly makes Ru‐based nanomaterials a perfect candidate to replace advanced Pt catalysts. Significant progress is made in the rational design of Ru‐based electrocatalysts, but an in‐depth understanding of the engineering strategies and induced effects is still at an early stage. This review summarizes the modification strategies for enhancing the catalytic activity of Ru, including surface structure, metal element, nonmetal element, size, bimetallic oxides, and heterostructure engineering strategies. Then the induced electronic modulation effects generated by the intramolecular and intermolecular of the Ru‐based nanomaterials are elucidated. Further, the application progress of engineered Ru‐based nanomaterials for hydrogen and oxygen conversion reactions is highlighted, and the correlations of engineering strategies, catalytic activity, and reaction pathways are elaborated. Finally, challenges and prospects are presented for the future development and practical application of Ru‐based nanomaterials.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/aenm.202202119

Recent Advances in Engineered Ru‐Based Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen/Oxygen Conversion Reactions

Three-dimensional porous PtCu as highly efficient electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction

PtCu3 nanoalloy@porous PWOx composites with oxygen container function as efficient ORR electrocatalysts advance the power density of room-temperature hydrogen-air fuel cells

Novel Ptni Nanoflowers Regulated by a Third Element (Rh, Ru, Pd) as Efficient Multifunctional Electrocatalysts for Orr, Mor and Her

The electrochemical activation mode as a way to exceptional ORR performance of nanostructured PtCu/C materials

Platinum (Pt), as a commonly used electrocatalyst in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), suffers from sluggish kinetics of both the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Geometric engineering has been proven effective for improving the MOR and ORR activities. Thus, by modulating the Pt precursor and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) dosages, different porous PtCu nanotubes constructed by hollow nanospheres, solid alloy, and Pt-rich skinned nanoparticles, respectively, are successfully synthesized. Among them, the solid PtCu alloy nanoparticle coherent nanotubes exhibit the specific activity 9.42 times higher than Pt/C toward MOR, while the hollow PtCu alloy nanosphere coherent nanotubes show the specific activity 4.85 times higher than Pt/C toward ORR. The different Pt:Cu ratios of hollow nanospheres, solid alloy, and Pt-rich skinned nanoparticles cause the differences in electron transfer from Cu to Pt as well as electronic structures of Pt. As a result, the binding energies of intermediates can be regulated, leading to the enhancement in MOR and ORR.

Benfeng Lin

Papers

Geometric Engineering of Porous PtCu Nanotubes with Ultrahigh Methanol Oxidation and Oxygen Reduction Capability.