2D materials modulating layered double hydroxides for electrocatalytic water splitting

Exploring highly efficient electrochemical water splitting catalysts has recently attracted extensive research interest from both fundamental researches and practical applications. Transition metal-based layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been proved to be one of the most efficient materials for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), however, still suffered from low conductivity and sluggish kinetics for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which largely inhibited the overall water splitting efficiency. To address this dilemma, enormous approaches including doping regulation, intercalation tuning and defect engineering are therefore rationally designed and developed. Herein, we focus on the recent exciting progress of LDHs hybridization with other two-dimensional (2D) materials for water splitting reactions, not barely for enhancing OER efficiency but also for boosting HER activity. Particularly, the structural features, morphologies, charge transfer and synergistic effects for the heterostructure/heterointerface that influence the electrocatalytic performance are discussed in details. The hybrid 2D building blocks not only serve as additional conductivity and structural supported but also promote electron transfer at the interfaces and further enhance the electrocatalytic performance. The construction and application of the nanohybrid materials will guide a new direction in developing multifunctional materials based on LDHs, which will contribute to energy conversion and storage. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.