Design and Synthesis of Hollow Nanostructures for Electrochemical Water Splitting

Abstract

Electrocatalytic water splitting using renewable energy is widely considered as a clean and sustainable way to produce hydrogen as an ideal energy fuel for the future. Electrocatalysts are indispensable elements for large‐scale water electrolysis, which can efficiently accelerate electrochemical reactions occurring at both ends. Benefitting from high specific surface area, well‐defined void space, and tunable chemical compositions, hollow nanostructures can be applied as promising candidates of direct electrocatalysts or supports for loading internal or external electrocatalysts. Herein, some recent progress in the structural design of micro‐/nanostructured hollow materials as advanced electrocatalysts for water splitting is summarized. First, the design principles and corresponding strategies toward highly effective hollow electrocatalysts for oxygen/hydrogen evolution reactions are highlighted. Afterward, an overview of current reports about hollow electrocatalysts with diverse architectural designs and functionalities is given, including direct hollow electrocatalysts with single‐shelled, multi‐shelled, or open features and heterostructured electrocatalysts based on hollow hosts. Finally, some future research directions of hollow electrocatalysts for water splitting are discussed based on personal perspectives.

Bimetallic Cu/Fe MOF-Based Nanosheet Film via Binder-Free Drop-Casting Route: A Highly Efficient Urea-Electrolysis Catalyst

“…In addition, the combustion of hydrogen releases only water as a by-product, and is, therefore, eco-friendly [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Among the several hydrogen production techniques, the electrochemical water-splitting process is the emission-free green route for generating hydrogen with high purity [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Unfortunately, the efficiency of hydrogen production is severely hindered due to the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction process (OER) at the anode [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Fe‐Incorporated Ni3S4/NiS2Nanocomposite as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Alkaline Water Oxidation

“…[7,8] For the purpose, transition metal (TM)-based oxides, hydroxides, chalcogenides, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and more are widely explored for OER as well as HER applications. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Further, much attention was drawn to improve electrocatalysts for OER since it involves more complex four-electron transfer process. [22][23][24] Among several electrocatalysts, TM-based sulfides are interesting due to high surface area and good conductivity.…”

Metal-organic framework nanocrystal-derived hollow porous materials: Synthetic strategies and emerging applications

“…Although several reviews have summarized the MOF-derived hollow nanomaterials and their potential applications, 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 most of these review articles are mainly focused on MOF-derived hollow materials and their applications in energy storage and conversion. Up to now, a comprehensive summary of the synthetic strategies and emerging applications of hollow porous materials derived from MOF-based templates and/or precursors is lacking in the literature.…”