Strategies for Advancing Electrodeposited Co-Based Oxygen Evolution Catalysts from Alkaline to Pure-Water Conditions

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is a promising platform for scalable and cost-effective green hydrogen production. Extensive research efforts have focused on enhancing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity from alkaline to pure-water conditions. Co-based catalysts have shown high activity and stability for OER across alkaline to near-neutral conditions, making them strong candidates for AEMWE. In addition, electrodeposition offers a simple, scalable, and low-cost method for synthesizing these catalysts with tailored properties. Despite numerous advances in enhancing catalytic performance, comprehensive guidance on tailoring these catalysts to different electrolyte environments remains limited. This study suggests the key factors affecting the activity and durability of electrodeposited Co-based OER catalysts in both KOH and pure-water media. By comparing the electrochemical behavior and catalyst synthesis strategies under these conditions, we identify performance bottlenecks and knowledge gaps and propose strategies to guide the rational design of robust Co-based catalysts for sustainable AEMWE systems.