Water electrolysis driven by renewable energy is crucial for sustainable hydrogen production. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) utilizing electrocatalysts plays a key role in this process. While iridium oxide is commonly used for its stability, high cost limits its application. The article explores the introduction of strain heterogeneity in RuO2 electrocatalysts through Pt-doping to enhance stability and activity. The Pt-RuO2 catalyst exhibited remarkable performance, operating stably for over 1500 hours at 10 mA cm−2 and achieving superior long-term water electrolysis results over 500 hours at 500 mA cm−2, surpassing DOE targets. By extending this strategy to other atoms like Re and Cu, enhanced OER performance was observed, highlighting a universal approach for advanced electrocatalyst development.