Ruthenium is a critical material in the manufacture of hard disk drives (HDDs), where an ultra-thin layer of ruthenium (just three atoms thick) is deposited between magnetic layers. This technology — known as "perpendicular magnetic recording" or "pixie dust" — tripled HDD storage capacity when introduced in the mid-2000s and remains the foundation of high-capacity data storage today. As global data generation grows exponentially with cloud computing, AI training, and enterprise storage demand, ruthenium continues to play a critical role in delivering cost-effective, high-density storage solutions for data centers worldwide.

Ruthenium catalysts are essential in numerous large-scale chemical processes. Ruthenium-based catalysts are used in modified Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis (a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional iron catalysts), Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to convert syngas into liquid fuels, and selective hydrogenation reactions in pharmaceutical and fine chemicals manufacturing. Ruthenium is also key in olefin metathesis — recognized with the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry — which has revolutionized polymer science and drug development. Its high activity, selectivity, and stability under demanding industrial conditions make ruthenium irreplaceable in modern green chemistry initiatives.

Ruthenium oxide (RuO₂) is a key material in thick-film chip resistors found in virtually every electronic device, from smartphones to industrial control systems, due to its excellent electrical stability and resistance to oxidation. Ruthenium thin films are increasingly used as copper barrier and seed layers in advanced semiconductor manufacturing nodes (5nm and below), where its low resistivity and excellent adhesion properties enable continued chip miniaturization. Ruthenium is also used in EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography masks for next-generation chip production, electrical contacts requiring high reliability, and as a hardener in platinum alloys for fountain pen nib tips and laboratory equipment.

Ruthenium-based polypyridyl complexes are the most efficient sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) — a third-generation photovoltaic technology offering flexible, lightweight, and low-cost alternatives to traditional silicon panels for indoor and low-light applications. Ruthenium catalysts are also showing significant promise in water splitting for green hydrogen production, photocatalytic CO₂ reduction, and next-generation fuel cells. As the world transitions to sustainable energy systems, ruthenium's role in clean technology is expected to grow substantially. Additionally, ruthenium alloyed with platinum (10% Ru) creates one of the hardest precious metal alloys, used in jewelry and high-precision mechanical components.