Recent advances in transition metal phosphide-based heterostructure electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction

To rapidly develop water-splitting technology for hydrogen generation, it is essential to create efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have emerged as effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their unique electronic structure and high catalytic activity. The TMP-based heterostructure catalysts exhibit superior OER activity compared to individual TMP catalysts as heterostructures not only increase the number of active sites in the catalysts but also facilitate the adsorption of intermediates. This review begins by introducing the catalytic mechanism and key parameters of the OER, followed by the preparation methods of different types of TMP-based heterostructures. Additionally, this article discusses four primary strategies to improve the OER performance of TMP-based heterostructures and the current challenges. Finally, this article provides conclusions and perspectives on utilizing TMP-based heterostructure catalysts for the OER. This paper reviews the recent advances in transition metal phosphide-based heterostructure electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction.