Interface design and composition regulation of cobalt-based electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

The efficient, stable and low-cost catalyst for water splitting is a key factor especially for the industrial production of green hydrogen. Oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a critical semi-reaction, severely limits the occurrence of water splitting due to the slow kinetics of four-electron transfer. Cobalt-based materials are the well-stocked conductive catalytic feedstock, which can drive down the energy cost needed for OER via lowering the overpotential. Herein, cobalt-based materials and their derivatives in the field of OER catalysis in alkaline, acidic and neutral media are summarized. The interface design and composition regulation strategy are the key approaches for cobalt-based catalysts design in recent years. The related catalytic mechanisms and structure-function relationship have been deeply discussed and analyzed. Finally, for different media environment, a new prospect is proposed for the design of efficient cobalt OER catalytic materials and their application in industrial large-scale energy output strategies. • Cobalt-based materials are the conductive catalytic feedstock for OER. • Interface design of cobalt-based catalysts is the key for better performances. • Composition regulation strategy is introduced deeply to prepare Co-based catalysts. • A new prospect is proposed for cobalt-based catalysts for industrial large-scale energy output.