Enhancing Acidic Water Electrolysis via Local Electronic Regulation of Ru/TiOx Catalyst with Oxygen Coordination Unsaturated Ti Sites

Abstract

Effective local electron regulation in ruthenium-based catalysts in acidic oxygen evolution reactions (OER) remains a key challenge. The lack of a unified understanding of catalyst activity and stability based on electron regulation limits the further development of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). In this study, we develop the concept of oxygen coordination unsaturated Ti (Ti_OCU) sites. Based on the constructed local dual-oxide heterojunction interface in the Ru/TiO_x catalyst, we achieve precise modulation of the d-electron orbitals of Ru sites. The charge redistribution between the Ru–O_bridge–Ti_OCU local coordination units and the strengthened Ru–O bonds suppresses the formation of high-valence species and deactivation of catalyst. Combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations and in situ spectroscopic experiments, we confirm that the modulation of the d_z² orbital charge significantly optimizes the deprotonation process of interfacial water and the formation of a hydroxyl-rich interface, thereby enhancing the OER kinetics and the dominance of the adsorbed evolution mechanism (AEM). Consequently, the Ru/TiO_x catalyst exhibits superior OER performance, achieving a current density of 10 mA/cm² at an overpotential of only 237 mV in 0.5 M H₂SO₄, and demonstrates stability for over 160 h. This work reveals the application of interfacial Ti_OCU, providing a perspective for the development of transition metal defect materials in water electrolysis.