journal article·2026-07Open access

One‐Dimensional RuIrTe Nanotubes with Amorphous Surface as a Highly Active and Stable Electrocatalyst Toward Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acidic Media

Zhi Liang Zhao, Zhe Zhang, Shaoxuan Yang, Jie Zhang, Qi Wang

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 39

Abstract

ABSTRACT The sluggish kinetics and poor durability of the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remain the primary obstacles to the large‐scale deployment of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). Here, we report a class of one‐dimensional (1D) RuIrTe ternary alloy nanotubes that effectively address the inherent activity‐stability trade‐off through a unique core‐shell heterostructure. This architecture, featuring a conductive crystalline RuIrTe core and a defect‐rich, amorphous Te‐doped RuIr oxide shell, is fabricated via a rational etching‐induced reconstruction strategy. The 1D hollow morphology ensures rapid mass and charge transport, while the amorphous reconstructed surface provides highly active and flexible sites for water oxidation. Consequently, the optimized Ru 3 Ir 1 Te NTs electrocatalyst exhibits exceptional OER performance in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 , achieving an overpotential of 204 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and a mass activity 155 times higher than commercial IrO 2 . Moreover, in a PEMWE cell, the catalyst achieves an industrial‐level current density of 1.57 A cm −2 at 1.80 V with sustained operation for 500 h. Electronic structure analysis reveals that the Te‐doped surface modulates the electronic configuration of active centers, effectively lowering the energy barrier of the rate‐determining step. This work establishes a versatile surface‐engineering paradigm for developing high‐performance, durable electrodes for next‐generation hydrogen technologies.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction · Advanced battery technologies research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

National Energy Key Laboratory for New Hydrogen‐Ammonia Energy Technologies Foshan Xianhu Laboratory Foshan China

College of Physics Science and Technology Yangzhou University Jiangsu China

Department of Materials Science and Engineering City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province · Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province

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