Nanoboxes endow non-noble-metal-based electrocatalysts with high efficiency for overall water splitting

Abstract

In order to solve the environmental and energy crises, it is urgent to develop cost-effective and advanced electrocatalysts for efficient overall water splitting. With the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), non-noble-metal-based hollow nanoboxes have become one of the most promising candidate materials for heterogeneous electrocatalysts due to their unique structural features. In this review, we aim at providing an updated summary of the research related to hollow nanobox architectures, covering their classification, advantages, electrocatalytic applications and reaction mechanisms. Following a brief introduction, we review the recent progress in various advanced nanoboxes for electrocatalytic processes in the efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and overall water splitting (OWS). Then, we systemically discuss the relationship among the composition, morphology, structure, and catalytic activity, with an emphasis on the classification of nanoboxes, electrocatalytic performance and reaction mechanism. Later, the structural advantages and compositional merits for advanced electrocatalysis are also presented, including abundant surface active sites, facilitated electron/mass transport, and favorable synergistic effect and electronic effect. Finally, the current challenges, future perspectives, and research directions ahead for non-noble-metal-based nanoboxes as efficient electrocatalysts are also outlined.