Preferential Microstructure Design of Two‐Dimensional Electrocatalysts for Boosted Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Abstract Electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has received substantial concerns owing to its crucial role in improving the overall efficiency of water electrolysis to generate clean hydrogen energy. Focused on the optimization of the earth‐abundant OER catalysts, plenty of strategies have been developed aimed on enriching the exposed active sites and enhancing the overall charge transport behavior, thus improving the OER performance. In this Concept paper, the structural merits and limits of the two‐dimensional (2D) OER catalysts are discussed in detail. Based on the understandings of the structural influences on the OER catalysis, recent progresses on preferential microstructure design of the 2D OER catalysts are summarized, including designing highly porous single‐crystalline catalysts, amorphous/partially amorphous catalysts, defective catalysts and hierarchical catalysts. This work may provide a useful guidance for future designing of the advanced catalysts for OER.