A review on defect modulated electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for applications such as water splitting and rechargeable metal–air batteries. Recent research has focused on improving the activity and stability of OER electrocatalysts through various strategies including structural innovation, heteroatom doping, and conductivity enhancement. Among these, defect engineering has proved particularly effective, allowing precise modulation of the materials’ electronic structure at the atomic level. This review addresses defect-rich materials that exhibit superior electrochemical properties for OER applications, with a particular focus on developments from the past five years. The discussion starts with an overview of the OER catalytic mechanism and then delves into the types of defects, synthesis methods, and their impact on electrochemical performance. This review concludes with insights into the rational design and synthesis of advanced electrocatalysts, aiming to improve efficiency and extend operational longevity. The objective is to highlight approaches for creating high-performance OER electrocatalysts that outperform noble-metal based systems in both activity and stability.