Research progress in oxygen evolution reaction of iridium-ruthenium catalysts in acidic media

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) hydrogen production is the core technology to realize the large-scale production of green hydrogen, and its large-scale application is subject to the slow oxygen evolution reaction (OE ) kinetics of the anode. Although Ir-based catalysts have excellent stability, they are expensive and have limited activity. Ru-based catalysts have excellent activity but face serious acid dissolution problems. Therefore, the development of iridium-ruthenium (Ir-Ru) -based catalysts with both high activity and high stability has become the focus of current research. It aims to break through the performance bottleneck of a single metal through synergistic effects, and provide a material basis for reducing the cost of PEMWE system and promoting its commercial application. In this paper, the research progress of iridium-ruthenium catalysts in acidic media in recent years is systematically reviewed. Focusing on the three key strategies of component optimization, structural engineering and carrier design, the effective ways to improve the performance of catalysts are discussed in depth. By analyzing the existing research results, the future research direction is also prospected. This review aims to provide theoretical guidance and technical reference for the development of a new generation of efficient and stable OER catalysts, and has important guiding significance for promoting the commercialization of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis hydrogen production technology.