Water splitting based on homogeneous copper molecular catalysts

Abstract

The future of energy supply depends on innovative breakthroughs regarding the design of cheap, sustainable, and efficient systems for the conversion and storage of renewable energy sources. In the past few years, many efforts have been devoted to the development of alternative catalysts for water splitting based on transition-metal elements. In this review, we largely focus on homogeneous copper-based catalysts for water oxidation and water reduction in both electrochemical and photochemical means. Particular attention is paid on evaluation of molecular catalysts’ activity, stability and brief mechanism. Finally, challenge and prospective in this field is highlighted and we hope that more promising copper-based homogeneous catalytic system can be further developed.