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Efficient and stable electrocatalysts for water splitting

  • Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Water Splitting
  • Published:
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Abstract

Water-splitting electrolysis, using a renewable power source, has been widely considered as a promising energy conservation and storage technology that is environmentally friendly. In order to lower the required energy barrier and to improve the energy-conversion efficiency of hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution on the electrodes, highly efficient and durable electrocatalysts are essential. To date, various preparation methods and theoretical models have been developed to accelerate the catalyst design and to further understand the associated electrocatalytic mechanism. In this issue of MRS Bulletin, all aspects of non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for water splitting involving standard methodology, surface electronic structure engineering, morphology design, interface effects, pH operation range, activity descriptors, and operational stability are discussed. These discussions indicate the importance of materials innovations for the realization of highly efficient and durable electrocatalysts for large-scale cost-effective water splitting.

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Acknowledgments

This work is financially supported by the General Research Fund (CityU 11211317) and the Theme-Based Research Scheme (T42-103/16-N) of the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR, China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 51672229), and the Science Technology and Innovation Committee of Shenzhen Municipality (Grant JCYJ20170818095520778).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Xiuming Bu (Guest Editor)

  2. Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials, Soochow University, China

    Yanguang Li (Guest Editor)

  3. City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Johnny C. Ho (Guest Editors)

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  1. Xiuming Bu
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  2. Yanguang Li
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Correspondence to Xiuming Bu.

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Bu, X., Li, Y. & Ho, J.C. Efficient and stable electrocatalysts for water splitting. MRS Bulletin 45, 531–538 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2020.170

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