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Corresponding Author

Xiao-qing HUANG(hxq006@suda.edu.cn)

Abstract

Hydrogen is a kind of renewable energies with the merits of environmentally friendly, abundance and high weight energy density, which can replace the fossil energy. The electrolysis of water is regarded as the most effective way to generate hydrogen. Owing to the sluggish kinetics and large overpotential of the anode oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the efficiency of the cathode hydrogen evolution reaction is greatly limited. Therefore, it is highly desirable to explore efficient, stable and low cost electrocatalysts to reduce the overpotential of OER and improve the efficiency of hydrogen evolution. Based on the natural characteristics of non-noble metal catalysts and their excellent OER activities in high hydroxyl ion (OH-) concentrations, the OER mechanism in alkaline conditions and the methods for OER performance evaluation are firstly introduced in this review. Then the recent research progresses in non-noble metal nanomaterial electrocatalysts for OER are mainly illustrated. Finally, some perspectives are highlighted with the in-depth insights of catalytic mechanism, the designs of bifunctional and novel non-noble metal catalysts.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

non-noble metal, nanomaterials, electrocatalysis, oxygen evolution reaction

Publication Date

2018-10-28

Online Available Date

2018-06-26

Revised Date

2018-06-12

Received Date

2018-05-14

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