Bioinspired electrocatalysts for water splitting

Abstract

Animals and plants have evolved over billions of years to develop unique characteristics that balance their structures and functions. In recent decades, efforts have been made to mimic these natural structures, forms, functions, and behaviors to address major challenges in the environmental energy sector. Electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen and oxygen production is one of the most promising methods for generating clean and sustainable fuels. Biomimetic designs have significantly expanded the boundaries of the energy field by fostering innovations in electrocatalytic materials and gas manipulation, thereby facilitating substantial advance in energy research. This review focuses on the recent progress in bioinspired water electrolysis catalysts from two perspectives: simulation of organismal structures and construction of nanozyme architectures. We highlight key examples of interface engineering and hierarchical structures designed to enhance mass diffusion efficiency. Drawing on the insights from the hydrogenase and oxygen-evolving center of photosystem II (PS II), we present bioinspired strategies for enzyme-mimicking activity sites, mass transport channels, and specialized microenvironments. Finally, we discuss the future opportunities and development directions for bionic design at the device level with the aim of broadening the range of applications of bioinspired electrocatalysts.