Recent advances in lanthanide-based materials for oxygen evolution reaction: Challenges and future prospects

Abstract

Lanthanide-based materials have emerged as highly promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a pivotal process in water splitting and energy conversion applications. These materials present a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to noble-metal catalysts, addressing critical challenges of scarcity and cost. Their exceptional catalytic activity and stability are attributed to unique electronic properties, including multiple oxidation states, large ionic radius, and strong spin-orbit coupling. Recent breakthroughs demonstrate significant enhancements in overpotential reduction and long-term stability under extreme electrochemical conditions, positioning lanthanides as a transformative solution for renewable energy systems. This review comprehensively explores various classes of lanthanide-based OER electrocatalysts, including transition metals, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), perovskites, nanomaterials, and chalcogenides, nitrides, borides, and phosphides. Perovskites, in particular, have achieved remarkable stability and efficiency, underscoring their potential for real-world applications. Tailored strategies such as anionic substitution and heteroatom doping further optimize the electronic structure, active site stabilization, and charge transfer efficiency, driving significant performance improvements. Notably, recent studies report a substantial reduction in overpotential by up to 200 mV for lanthanide-based materials, along with significantly enhanced catalytic durability compared to conventional noble-metal catalysts. Key challenges remain, such as improving electrical conductivity, scalability, and performance longevity. Strategic integration of lanthanides into catalytic frameworks addresses these limitations while reducing reliance on scarce resources. These advancements enable lanthanide-based OER electrocatalysts to revolutionize renewable energy technologies and drive the commercialization of efficient water-splitting and electrochemical processes.