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Metallic ruthenium electrocatalyst with activity for the hydrogen oxidation reaction and the oxygen reduction reaction has been synthesized by microwave irradiation at 180 °C in deionized water as reaction media. Characterization of the material by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy shows a complete decarbonylation of the precursor Ru _3 (CO) _12 with formation of metallic Ru, which is confirmed by the corresponding x-ray diffraction analysis. Evaluation of the material’s electrocatalytic properties by the rotating disk electrode technique in 0.5 mol l ^−1 allows the study of hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction reaction using linear sweep voltammetry, exhibiting that the diffusional processes of H _2 and O _2 can be improved by modifying the electrocatalytic ink preparation.