Recent advances on water electrolysis based on nanoscale inorganic metal-oxides and metal-oxyhydroxides for hydrogen energy production

Hydrogen production through water electrolysis is a promising pathway to advance green energy technologies. The efficiency of cost-effective nanoscale electrocatalysts has been extensively studied over the past three decades, leading to significant advancements in catalytic nanostructure materials. Oxyhydroxide (OxH) electrocatalysts have gained attention for their robust performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline conditions. This review explores recent developments in transition-metal-based HER and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts, including alloys, phosphates, oxides, hydroxides, and oxyhydroxides. Emphasis is placed on structural design, controlled synthesis, and performance enhancement strategies, providing insights into the mechanisms of water splitting. The study also discusses advancements in self-supported electrodes and highlights the applications, challenges, and potential of OxH-based materials for efficient energy production. By addressing global energy demands and environmental concerns, this work contributes to the development of hierarchical OxH nanostructures, offering a foundation for future water-splitting technologies.