Dr. Yuan Shisheng and Colleagues from the School of Materials Science and Engineering Publish Review Article in Advanced Energy Materials

With the rapid advancement of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) in the field of green hydrogen production, the development of acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts that combine high activity with high stability has emerged as a critical bottleneck constraining large-scale industrial deployment. Although conventional noble metal oxides exhibit outstanding performance, their high cost and limited resource availability urgently necessitate the development of low-noble-metal or non-noble-metal alternative systems.

Recently, Dr. Yuan Shisheng and Professor Xie Yingpeng of Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, in collaboration with Professor Cheng Fangyi of Nankai University and Researcher Wu Zhongshuai of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted a comprehensive review of the latest advances in transition metal oxide OER catalysts under acidic conditions. The review systematically addresses reaction mechanisms, material systems, and performance optimization strategies. With respect to reaction mechanisms, it focuses on key pathways including the adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), the lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM), and the oxide path mechanism (OPM), elucidating the regulatory rules governing catalytic activity and stability under different mechanistic frameworks. In terms of material design, the review systematically surveys representative catalyst systems including spinels, perovskites, pyrochlores, and high-entropy oxides, and proposes a range of performance enhancement strategies encompassing heterostructure engineering, elemental doping, defect engineering, and reaction pathway regulation.

Furthermore, the review highlights the critical influence of acidic corrosion, electrochemical stability, and dynamic operating conditions—such as start-stop cycling—on the practical performance of catalysts, calling for multidimensional evaluation of catalytic performance from the perspectives of activity, stability, and engineering compatibility. This work is expected to provide theoretical guidance for the rational design of acidic OER catalysts and the engineering application of PEM water electrolysis systems.

The review article, entitled "Transition Metal Oxide Catalysts for Acidic Oxygen Evolution: Current Status and Key Strategies toward Efficient PEM Water Electrolysis," was published online on May 2, 2026, in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.

Primary Review and Translating: Chen Jiayu

Secondary Review and Translating: Zhao Wenhao

Final Review and Approval: Wang Meng