An overview on advances in design and development of materials for electrochemical generation of hydrogen and oxygen

Water-splitting technology is the most promising, low-cost, and green technology for many innovative energy devices such as electrolyzers, fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and so on. Designing and developing earth-abundant, low-cost, and highly efficient electrocatalysts is crucial for commercializing water splitting technology. In the last couple of years, various nanostructure electrocatalysts have been reviewed. However, most catalysts go through fewer active sites, instability, and other deficiencies. For enhancing the activity, various emerging strategies, such as decreasing the layer thickness, creating crystal defects, forming the composite, doping heteroatoms, and so on, have been developed. Therefore, it is highly demanding to summarize the existing data, which could afford a conclusive track for the thriving research of electrocatalysts toward water splitting. Instead of focusing on a special strategy for improving the catalytic activity, we present a relatively comprehensive review of the recent research progress on various emerging strategies. We have systematically discussed the fundamental science regarding water splitting and different electrochemical parameters for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. The computational and experimental approaches for the recent advancement of catalytic activity developed in the current year have been discussed and investigated. Finally, the outlook of the water-splitting technology has been summarized. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Water-splitting technology is a promising, low-cost, and environmentally friendly energy technology for various innovative devices. Designing and developing high-performance, low-cost electrocatalysts is crucial for the commercialization of water-splitting technology. Various emerging strategies have been developed to enhance the catalytic activity.