Structural Variations of Metal Oxide-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for carbon-free energy technologies like electrocatalytic and photoelectrochemical cells.
• Metal oxides are widely studied OER electrocatalysts due to their synthesis ease and stability.
• Structural variations in metal oxides during OER hinder mechanistic understanding and catalyst design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current research on structural variations in metal oxide-based OER electrocatalysts.
• To elucidate the origins and influencing factors of these structural changes.
• To provide strategies for regulating variations and identify active species.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of metal oxide OER electrocatalysts.
• Analysis of factors (external and internal) affecting structural stability.
• Discussion of operando techniques for monitoring structural evolution.

Main Results:

• Identified origins and factors contributing to structural variations in metal oxides during OER.
• Summarized approaches to control and mitigate detrimental structural changes.
• Highlighted the utility of operando methods for tracking dynamic structural evolution.

Conclusions:

• Understanding and controlling structural variations are key to designing efficient metal oxide OER electrocatalysts.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate structure-catalysis relationships and address remaining challenges.