Chapter 5 - Structure and basic properties of transition metal oxides designed for application in water splitting

Abstract

Transition metal oxides, based on the cheap transition metal oxides Mn, Co, Ni, and Fe have been reported as viable catalysts for the OER and ORR. TMOs exhibit many advantages including the ability to change their bonding structure, and hence their oxidation states, as a function of applied annealing temperature during material fabrication or applied electrochemical potential in situ; which allows for the evaluation of the OER and ORR of the same material. Herein, we summarize recent research advances in the rational design and efficient synthesis of TMOs with controlled shapes, sizes, compositions, and micro-/nano-structures, along with their applications in electrocatalytic water splitting.