A mini-review of noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for overall water splitting in non-alkaline electrolytes

• Published in: Materials Reports: Energy Vol. 1; no. 2; p. 100024
• Main Authors: Yu, Jie, Dai, Yawen, He, Qijiao, Zhao, Dongqi, Shao, Zongping, Ni, Meng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2021; KeAi Communications Co. Ltd
• Subjects: Bifunctional catalytic electrode; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Noble-metal-free electrocatalyst; Non-alkaline electrolyte; Overall water splitting; Oxygen evolution reaction; Noble-metal-free electrocatalyst; Bifunctional catalytic electrode; Non-alkaline electrolyte; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Overall water splitting; Oxygen evolution reaction
• ISSN: 2666-9358; 2666-9358
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matre.2021.100024

Development of noble-metal-free materials with remarkable electrocatalytic water-splitting performance in acidic or neutral media has sparked considerable attention in recent years. Herein, we review the latest research on design and fabrication of precious-metal-free catalytic materials for overall water electrolysis in non-alkaline environment, especially highlighting several optimizing approaches to enhance the catalytic behavior and to realize effective bifunctional electrocatalysts. All these involved noble-metal-free electrocatalysts are classified into transition-metal oxides (TMOs), transition-metal nitrides (TMNs), transition-metal carbides (TMCs), transition-metal phosphides (TMPs), transition-metal chalcogenides, metal complexes, and metal-free carbons, as shown in the main part. Besides, the paper also offers an introduction of the fundamental electrochemistry of water splitting before entering the subject, as well as a prospective discussion on mechanism understanding, novel catalysts fabrication, and standardized performance measurements/evaluation in the last section. [Display omitted]