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Stability of electrocatalytic OER: from principle to application
HuangJingWei Li1, Yu Lin1, Junyuan Duan1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China. ywliu@hust.edu.cn.
Chemical Society Reviews
|September 18, 2024
Summary
This review highlights the critical need for stable electrocatalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for efficient hydrogen energy production. It summarizes degradation factors and strategies for enhancing electrocatalyst and device stability in water electrolysis.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Hydrogen energy is a promising solution to the energy crisis, primarily produced via water electrolysis.
- The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key but kinetically sluggish process in water electrolysis.
- Long-term stability of electrocatalysts for OER is crucial for practical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of recent advancements in electrocatalytic OER stability.
- To summarize factors influencing OER stability in both electrocatalysts and devices.
- To outline strategies for enhancing OER stability for large-scale water electrolysis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on OER stability.
- Analysis of degradation mechanisms affecting electrocatalysts and devices.
- Categorization of current approaches for stability enhancement.
Main Results:
- Identified key degradation factors: morphological/phase changes, dissolution, mechanical detachment, and operational wear.
- Highlighted strategies for electrocatalyst design: structural regulation, protective coatings, and substrate anchoring.
- Discussed device optimization: improvements in bipolar plates, gas diffusion layers, and membranes.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced stability of electrocatalytic OER is essential for the widespread adoption of hydrogen energy.
- A combination of advanced electrocatalyst design and optimized device engineering is necessary.
- This review provides design principles to address OER stability challenges in water electrolysis.
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