hide
Free keywords:
-
Abstract:
The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) balances the hydrogen evolution reaction when splitting water into green hydrogen and oxygen with renewable electricity. Oxygen evolution occurs at potentials at which the pre-catalysts undergo transformations into complex and disordered OER-active oxides. Traditional synthetic methods and material compositions have resulted in an enormous variety of OER pre-catalysts, yet the most active of them are forced into a few prevailing oxyhydroxide or amorphous oxide phases under operation. As a result, practically relevant catalyst activity and stability have remained unchanged for decades. Here we discuss the need to develop new theory in synergy with operando electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization to take advantage of the effects of an applied electrochemical potential gradient on the chemical composition and atomic surface structure, the hydroxide ion intercalation and other interfacial ionics. Additionally, we highlight new synthesis methods and material compositions that might translate control over the pre-catalyst into control over the active oxide phase, as well as new methods of modifying active oxides during operation.
