Engineering self-supported ruthenium-titanium alloy oxide on 3D web-like titania as iodide oxidation reaction electrocatalyst to boost hydrogen production

Here, we show a ruthenium-titanium alloy oxide (RuTiO) on a 3D web-like titania for iodide oxidation reaction (IOR) and simultaneously to boost hydrogen production by water electrolysis. The FT-EXAFS results of Ru K-edge in the RuTiO catalyst show the presence of Ru-Ti bonding in the second shell. The developed RuTiO requires an ultralow cell voltage of 1.09 V to achieve 10 mA cm-2 for IOR-based electrolysis, whereas the Faradaic efficiency for H2 production is almost 100 % at the cathode. The RuTiO remains stable in a 36-hours test without degradation, indicating that the electrocatalyst could be used as a robust anode in an IOR-based electrolysis for value-added H2 production. This proves that IOR-based electrolysis is more energy-saving for value-added H2 production when compared to water electrolysis. This finding paves a route to design other electrocatalysts on 3D web-like titania with improved catalytic activity and prolonged stability for IOR-based electrolysis. [Display omitted] •Titania-web supported Ru-Ti alloy oxide exhibits an excellent IOR activity and durability.•The IOR-integrated electrolyzer requires a much lower overpotential for IOR, compared to ORR.•Instead of O2, H2 and iodine are produced simultaneously at cathode and anode.•IOR coupled HER reduces the cost for H2 production.•RuTiO remains stable in a 36-hours durability test without degradation