Evaluating the dynamic integrity of ruthenium oxide nanoparticles using shock tube: an integrated experimental and DFT study

Journal article

In the present work, the structural, morphological, molecular, optical, and catalytic features of RuO₂ were evaluated for their stability using a tabletop shock tube and compared with results from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Based on the XRD patterns that were obtained, it was discovered that the average crystalline sizes for the control, 200, and 400 shocked RuO₂ nanoparticles were 22.8, 23.7, and 23.6 nm, respectively. RuO₂ remained morphologically stable after 400 shocks, and the calculated average grain sizes were 26.98, 24.52, and 25.66 nm. The molecular stability of the nanoparticles was assessed by FTIR, and the results suggest there were no major changes in the RuO₂ NPs. XPS analysis confirmed the chemical stability of RuO₂ under dynamic shock conditions, with Ru maintaining its predominant Ru⁴⁺ oxidation state and showing negligible variation in the oxygen environment. Methylene Blue dye was used with the control and shock-treated RuO₂ NPs as a catalyst to evaluate the photo-assisted degradation activity under sunlight exposure. The RuO₂ NPs exhibited excellent stability under these extreme conditions.

Authors: Sakthivel, S; Paramasivam, S; Dhas Sathyadhas Amalapushpam, MB; Vivekanandan, A; Kannan, JR

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Ceramics International
• Volume: 52
• Issue: 10A
• Pages: 14809-14822
• Publication date: 2026-02-10
• Acceptance date: 2026-02-08
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.02.116
• EISSN: 1873-3956
• ISSN: 0272-8842
• Language: English
• Keywords: RuO2; shock wave; stability; photocatalyst; DOS