Earth-Abundant Heterogeneous Water Oxidation Catalysts

Abstract

Water oxidation is a key chemical transformation for the conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels. Our review focuses on recent work on robust earth-abundant heterogeneous catalysts for the oxygen-evolving reaction (OER). We point out that improvements in the performance of OER catalysts will depend critically on the success of work aimed at understanding reaction barriers based on atomic-level mechanisms. We highlight the challenge of obtaining acid-stable OER catalysts, with proposals for elements that could be employed to reach this goal. We suggest that future advances in solar fuels science will be accelerated by the development of new methods for materials synthesis and characterization, along with in-depth investigations of redox mechanisms at catalytic surfaces.

Armed by Asp? C-terminal carboxylate in a Dap-branched peptide and consequences in the binding of CuII and electrocatalytic water oxidation

“…[1][2][3][4] This research is driven by the aim of producing H 2 as part of envisioned renewable energy storage or articial photosynthesis systems. [4][5][6][7][8][9] In such systems electrolytic water splitting can be the source of H 2 , if both half-cell reactions are accelerated to a reasonable rate by an electrocatalyst.…”

Mixed‐Metal Tungsten Oxide Photoanode Materials Made by Pulsed‐Laser in Liquids Synthesis

“…Both first-row transition metals have recently attracted much attention as water oxidation electrocatalysts in aqueous base. [1] Here we demonstrated that the addition of iron or nickel to tungsten oxides enhanced photocurrent generation in strongly acidic aqueous electrolyte.…”

“…Our results indicate that incorporation of a redox-active metal, whose higher oxidation states are accessible at moderate anodic potentials, [27] is beneficial for high electrocatalytic activity, as has been suggested before. [1] Photocurrent onset potentials varied significantly between the materials ( Figure 6). We found the best performance in mixedmetal tungsten oxides that contained ≤ 6.1 wt% nickel (with respect to W) or iron and chromium (Cr(W), which contained 1.1% Cr and 3.9% Fe with respect to W; Table 1).…”

“…Heterogeneous water oxidation catalysts made solely of non-precious elements have higher activities if high-valent metal-oxo centres that are accessible at moderate anodic potentials can be formed. [1] This is why we chose Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co precursors. It has also been shown that addition of redox-inert metals, such as Al or Zn, promotes water oxidation activity.…”

“…It has also been shown that addition of redox-inert metals, such as Al or Zn, promotes water oxidation activity. [26] Oxygen evolution catalysts based on Ni and Cu have been reported, [1] and tantalum (hydr)oxides do not corrode in aqueous acid, even at high anodic bias. [27] For comparison, we also synthesised neat tungsten oxide materials.…”