Electrochemical water splitting in acidic media is one of the most promising hydrogen production technologies, yet its practical applications in proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers are limited by the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Iridium (Ir)-based materials are considered as the state-of-the-art catalysts for acidic OER due to their good stability under harsh acidic conditions. However, their activities still have much room for improvement. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are full of the advantages of high-surface area, unique electrical properties, facile surface modification, and good stability, making the development of 2D Ir-based catalysts more attractive for achieving high catalytic performance. In this review, first, the unique advantages of 2D catalysts for electrocatalysis are reviewed. Thereafter, the classification, synthesis methods, and recent OER achievements of 2D Ir-based materials, including pure metals, alloys, oxides, and perovskites are introduced. Finally, the prospects and challenges of developing 2D Ir-based catalysts for future acidic OER are discussed.
Keywords: 2D materials; Ir-based catalysts; acidic media; oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.