Recent Development on the Synthesis Strategies and Mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Review

The usage of fossil fuels has resulted in increasingly severe environmental problems, such as climate change, air pollution, water pollution, etc. Hydrogen energy is considered one of the most promising clean energies to replace fossil fuels due to its pollution-free and high-heat properties. Howeve...

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Main Authors: Liangjuan Gao, Yifan Jia, Hongxing Jia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3238
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author Liangjuan Gao
Yifan Jia
Hongxing Jia
author_facet Liangjuan Gao
Yifan Jia
Hongxing Jia
author_sort Liangjuan Gao
collection DOAJ
description The usage of fossil fuels has resulted in increasingly severe environmental problems, such as climate change, air pollution, water pollution, etc. Hydrogen energy is considered one of the most promising clean energies to replace fossil fuels due to its pollution-free and high-heat properties. However, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a critical challenge due to its high overpotential and slow kinetics during water electrolysis for hydrogen production. Electrocatalysts play an important role in lowering the overpotential of OER and promoting the kinetics. Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-based electrocatalysts have emerged as promising candidates for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their favorable catalytic activity and good compatibility compared with precious metal-based electrocatalysts. This review presents a summary of the recent developments in the synthesis strategies and mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-based electrocatalysts for the OER. Various synthesis strategies have been explored to control the size, morphology, and composition of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles. These strategies enable the fabrication of well-defined nanostructures with enhanced catalytic performance. Additionally, the mechanisms of OER catalysis on Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-based electrocatalysts have been elucidated. Coordinatively unsaturated sites, synergistic effects with other elements, surface restructuring, and pH dependency have been identified as crucial factors influencing the catalytic activity. The understanding of these mechanisms provides insights into the design and optimization of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-based electrocatalysts for efficient OER applications. The recent advancements discussed in this review offer valuable perspectives for researchers working on the development of electrocatalysts for the OER, with the goal of achieving sustainable and efficient energy conversion and storage systems.
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spelling doaj-art-ea4936a2becf4f4d99fb3a5e4fd75cc22025-08-20T03:36:22ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-08-013015323810.3390/molecules30153238Recent Development on the Synthesis Strategies and Mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A ReviewLiangjuan Gao0Yifan Jia1Hongxing Jia2College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Magnesium Alloys, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, ChinaThe usage of fossil fuels has resulted in increasingly severe environmental problems, such as climate change, air pollution, water pollution, etc. Hydrogen energy is considered one of the most promising clean energies to replace fossil fuels due to its pollution-free and high-heat properties. However, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a critical challenge due to its high overpotential and slow kinetics during water electrolysis for hydrogen production. Electrocatalysts play an important role in lowering the overpotential of OER and promoting the kinetics. Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-based electrocatalysts have emerged as promising candidates for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their favorable catalytic activity and good compatibility compared with precious metal-based electrocatalysts. This review presents a summary of the recent developments in the synthesis strategies and mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-based electrocatalysts for the OER. Various synthesis strategies have been explored to control the size, morphology, and composition of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles. These strategies enable the fabrication of well-defined nanostructures with enhanced catalytic performance. Additionally, the mechanisms of OER catalysis on Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-based electrocatalysts have been elucidated. Coordinatively unsaturated sites, synergistic effects with other elements, surface restructuring, and pH dependency have been identified as crucial factors influencing the catalytic activity. The understanding of these mechanisms provides insights into the design and optimization of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-based electrocatalysts for efficient OER applications. The recent advancements discussed in this review offer valuable perspectives for researchers working on the development of electrocatalysts for the OER, with the goal of achieving sustainable and efficient energy conversion and storage systems.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3238Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>oxygen evolution reaction (OER)synthesis strategiesmechanismcatalyst
spellingShingle Liangjuan Gao
Yifan Jia
Hongxing Jia
Recent Development on the Synthesis Strategies and Mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Review
Molecules
Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>
oxygen evolution reaction (OER)
synthesis strategies
mechanism
catalyst
title Recent Development on the Synthesis Strategies and Mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Review
title_full Recent Development on the Synthesis Strategies and Mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Review
title_fullStr Recent Development on the Synthesis Strategies and Mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Recent Development on the Synthesis Strategies and Mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Review
title_short Recent Development on the Synthesis Strategies and Mechanisms of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Review
title_sort recent development on the synthesis strategies and mechanisms of co sub 3 sub o sub 4 sub based electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction a review
topic Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>
oxygen evolution reaction (OER)
synthesis strategies
mechanism
catalyst
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3238
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AT yifanjia recentdevelopmentonthesynthesisstrategiesandmechanismsofcosub3subosub4subbasedelectrocatalystsforoxygenevolutionreactionareview
AT hongxingjia recentdevelopmentonthesynthesisstrategiesandmechanismsofcosub3subosub4subbasedelectrocatalystsforoxygenevolutionreactionareview