Reaction descriptors for the oxygen evolution reaction: Recent advances, challenges, and opportunities

Using green hydrogen to decarbonize industrial processes could reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but its large-scale production remains uneconomical, in large part due to the cost and inefficiency of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The activity of OER catalysts has often been justified using single variables widely known as descriptors, which can provide mechanistic insights and accelerate rational design. This mini-review outlines recent advances in the discovery and application of these descriptors in both homogeneous and heterogeneous OER catalysis, and outlines the obstacles and opportunities which lie ahead in descriptor-led catalyst design strategies.

Automated summary

Using green hydrogen to reduce dependence on fossil fuels is important, but large-scale production is still not economical due to the cost and efficiency issues of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This mini-review outlines recent advances in the discovery and application of descriptors in OER catalysis, and discusses the challenges and opportunities in catalyst design strategies.