Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Water Splitting: Rational Design of Catalyst and Research Progress

Electrocatalytic water splitting serves as a critical role in sustainable energy conversion, converting electricity into abundant clean fuel-hydrogen, meeting the strong energy demands at a low environmental cost. To overcome the thermodynamic uphill and sluggish kinetics of cathodic hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and anodic oxygen evolution reactions (OER), the promising nanomaterials catalysts with required properties, like high efficiency and durability, are in urgent need. The performance of nanoscale electrocatalysts relies on their intrinsic nature and structure, both of which can be rationalized by the proper design strategies. However, precisely tuning the nanomaterial design and performance is still a huge challenge. In this chapter, we will (i) summarize the fundamentals and mechanism and of HER and OER; (ii) systematically clarify the relationship between catalytic activity and electrode materials, further proposes the design principles of catalysts; and (iii) report the recent progress of the state-of-art nanomaterials and nanocomposites applied in electrocatalytic water splitting. This chapter intends to broaden the understanding of electrocatalytic water splitting, introduce the functional nanomaterials utilized in this application, claim the future challenges to be addressed, and guide the development of electrocatalysts in water splitting and related electrochemical processes.