Design and engineering of phosphide, sulfide, selenide, oxide and LDH based pre-catalysts for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction: recent advances and perspectives

Abstract

The development of high-performance, affordable, and non-noble metal-based electrode materials for water electrolyzers is essential for accomplishing the desirable production of green hydrogen using renewable energy sources. Intriguingly, the design of efficient and durable catalysts for the anode is critical, as it involves the kinetically sluggish water oxidation or oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The surface stability of materials used for the anode plays a vital role in determining the overall efficiency of electrolyzers. As a result, significant research efforts have focused on designing, synthesising, engineering, analyzing, and understanding the different transition metal-based catalysts for the OER. Importantly, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in Fe-, Co-, and Ni-based electrocatalysts with a special emphasis on their phosphide, sulfide, selenide, oxide, and layered double hydroxide forms for the OER. Different reaction pathways of the OER on these catalysts is introduced for a fundamental understanding of the OER mechanisms. A comprehensive discussion on why these catalysts are termed as “pre-catalysts” is provided for understanding the catalyst surface under the OER conditions, thereby uncovering the surface dynamics and reconstruction of the OER catalysts. Furthermore, the descriptor accounts for the activity and durability of Fe-, Co-, and Ni-based electrocatalysts are critically discussed. Our perspective on the design and engineering of Fe-, Co-, and Ni-based electrocatalysts and their merits, challenges, and scope is presented, highlighting the importance of incorporating advanced in situ/operando characterization, machine learning, and simulations.