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Destabilizing Alkaline Water with 3d‐Metal (Oxy)(Hydr)Oxides for Improved Hydrogen Evolution
Author(s) -
You Bo,
Qiao Shi Zhang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.202002503
Subject(s) - electrolysis of water , water splitting , renewable energy , catalysis , hydrogen , dissociation (chemistry) , electrolysis , alkali metal , alkaline water electrolysis , hydrogen production , hydrogen fuel , metal , adsorption , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , materials science , chemical engineering , electrode , engineering , organic chemistry , electrolyte , photocatalysis , electrical engineering
Alkaline water electrolysis enables the use of nonprecious metal‐based catalysts and therefore holds great promise for large‐scale generation of renewable hydrogen fuel, especially when driven by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. However, the sluggish kinetics of the water adsorption and dissociation steps in the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) lower its energy conversion efficiency. Recent achievements have proved that 3d‐metal (oxy)(hydr)oxides can accelerate these two kinetic processes and thereby improve the activity of diverse HER electrocatalysts from experimental and theoretical points of view. Moreover, a positive role of strong coupling between HER catalysts and 3d‐metal (oxy)(hydr)oxides has been discovered recently. In this minireview, a compendious introduction to recent progress is provided, including experiments and theory. Remarks on the challenges and perspectives in this rapidly developing field are also provided.