Machine Learning-Accelerated Screening of VCoRu Solid-Solution Alloy as a Superior Catalyst for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution

Ru-based solid-solution alloys have emerged as attractive substitutes for Pt-based electrocatalysts in the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the vast compositional space of these alloys hinders rapid catalyst discovery. Existing machine-learning design strategies are largely based on idealized simulation data, limiting their experimental relevance and screening efficiency. Herein, we develop an interpretable machine-learning framework informed by experiment to facilitate the rapid screening of Ru-based HER electrocatalysts. Built on an experimental dataset, the framework integrates electronic descriptors, interpretability analysis, a Bayesian-optimized surrogate model and uncertainty-aware ranking to efficiently identify promising compositions. Interpretability analysis identifies V, Co, and Ru as the key elements governing catalytic performance, whereas the surrogate model maps HER activity across the ternary alloy space to define a confined high-performance composition window. Guided by this framework, the optimized V₁₇Co₃₁Ru₅₂ catalyst exhibits an overpotential of 61.7 mV at a current density of 100 mA·cm⁻² in 1 M KOH, while maintaining stable operation for 260 h under the same current density. This work provides a rapid, interpretable and experimentally relevant strategy for discovering high-performance alkaline HER electrocatalysts. © 2026 The Author(s). Materials Genome Engineering Advances published by Wiley-VCH GmbH on behalf of University of Science and Technology Beijing.