Carbon-Based Composites for Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts: Design, Fabrication, and Application

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Green Energy

Background:

• The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical bottleneck in many energy conversion devices due to its slow kinetics.
• Developing efficient and affordable OER electrocatalysts is essential for advancing green energy technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• This review comprehensively summarizes recent advancements in carbon-based materials for alkaline OER.
• It focuses on the design, fabrication, and application of these materials to provide insights for future research.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on carbon-based materials for OER.
• Categorization of materials into metal-free carbons, supported composites, and core-shell hybrids.
• Analysis of design principles and fabrication strategies.

Main Results:

• Carbon-based materials offer a promising avenue for developing cost-effective and efficient OER electrocatalysts.
• Various strategies, including metal-free designs, composites, and core-shell structures, enhance OER performance.
• The review consolidates current knowledge on structure-property relationships.

Conclusions:

• Carbon-based materials are highly effective for alkaline OER, driven by their tunable properties and facile synthesis.
• Further research into rational design and fabrication can lead to superior OER electrocatalyst performance.
• These materials hold significant potential for improving energy storage and conversion devices.