Reconstructing oxygen electrocatalysts for hydrogen energy applications

作者：Wang, Jian^*

来源：Current Opinion in Electrochemistry, 2023, 39: 101304.

DOI：10.1016/j.coelec.2023.101304

• Oxygen evolution reaction
• Oxygen reduction reaction
• Electrocatalysts
• Hydrogen energy
• Reconstruction

Developing hydrogen economy significantly relies on water electrolyzers and fuel cells, where electrocatalysts towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reac-tion (ORR) play pivotal roles. For generating unusual catalyst species and preventing detrimental catalyst degradations, manipulating catalyst reconstructions is gaining intensive in-terest. This work reviews current understandings and modu-lations of reconstructions of representative OER/ORR electrocatalysts for water electrolyzers and fuel cells, covering platinum group metal-(PGM) based and PGM-free ones. By rigorously discussing the most recent progress, we distin-guished catalyst reconstruction from self-optimization or elec-trochemical activation, and emphasized that (engineered) reconstruction does not necessarily yield improved catalytic performance. More importantly, we highlighted the strategy of rationally designing the physicochemical properties of cata-lysts and managing the electrochemical conditions to achieve superior control of catalyst reconstructions. Through discus-sing the advances, challenges, and perspectives, this work contributes to rationally reconstructing oxygen catalysts by managing their reconstructions for high-performance hydrogen energy applications.