Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Energy Conversion and Storage: Design Strategies Under and Beyond the Energy Scaling...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Conversion

Background:

• The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is vital for energy storage and conversion devices like electrolyzers and batteries.
• Scaling relations between OER intermediates create intrinsic overpotentials and slow kinetics, hindering catalyst performance.
• Designing high-activity, stable, non-noble metal OER electrocatalysts remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review benchmark descriptors for OER electrolysis.
• To provide an in-depth understanding of the origins of OER electrocatalytic activity.
• To contribute to the theoretical framework of electrocatalysis and guide rational catalyst design.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on OER descriptors and structure-activity relationships.
• Analysis of quantitative correlations between catalytic activity and material properties.
• Summarization of cutting-edge research on new OER paradigms and strategies to overcome scaling limitations.

Main Results:

• Identified key descriptors that govern OER catalytic activity.
• Highlighted the limitations imposed by adsorption energy scaling relations.
• Summarized strategies to circumvent these scaling relationships for improved OER performance.

Conclusions:

• Understanding structure-activity relationships is central to designing efficient OER catalysts.
• New OER paradigms and strategies are emerging to overcome inherent limitations.
• Further research is needed to advance catalyst design and enhance OER performance for energy applications.