Recent development of hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reaction

In the 21st century, human beings have to face two serious problems, energy crisis and environmental pollution. Therefore, seeking cheap, durable and efficient overall water splitting electrocatalysts which can be comparable to those of state-of-the-art noble metal catalysts is our ultimate goal. Electrocatalysis is the core of a variety of energy conversion devices. Controlling the preparation of cheap, efficient, durable and green catalysts is an important way to promote the rapid development of energy storage and conversion technologies. Herein, the mechanism of three important reactions in electrocatalysis and the progress of catalysts are introduced, including hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reaction.