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Electrochemical Energy Reviews ›› 2025, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (4): 36-.doi: 10.1007/s41918-025-00262-z

• • 上一篇    

Vacancy Engineering Strategies for Water Splitting Electrocatalysts

Qing Zhang1, Yuhai Dou1, Cong Liu2, Haining Fan3, Mingjin Cui1, Porun Liu4, Hua Kun Liu1, Shi Xue Dou1, Ding Yuan1   

  1. 1. Institute of Energy Materials Science, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China;
    2. Centre for Computational Chemistry and Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China;
    3. Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
    4. Centre for Catalysis and Clean Energy, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
  • 收稿日期:2025-02-02 修回日期:2025-05-14 出版日期:2025-12-20 发布日期:2026-01-13
  • 通讯作者: Yuhai Dou,E-mail:y.dou@usst.edu.cn;Ding Yuan,E-mail:d_yuan@usst.edu.cn E-mail:y.dou@usst.edu.cn;d_yuan@usst.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    This work is financially supported by the National Overseas Postdoctoral Talent Attraction Program, the Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52402288), the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by China Association for Science and Technology (YESS20230183), the Research Fund for International Senior Scientists of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52350710795), and the Yangfan Special Program of Shanghai Star Project.

Vacancy Engineering Strategies for Water Splitting Electrocatalysts

Qing Zhang1, Yuhai Dou1, Cong Liu2, Haining Fan3, Mingjin Cui1, Porun Liu4, Hua Kun Liu1, Shi Xue Dou1, Ding Yuan1   

  1. 1. Institute of Energy Materials Science, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China;
    2. Centre for Computational Chemistry and Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China;
    3. Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
    4. Centre for Catalysis and Clean Energy, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
  • Received:2025-02-02 Revised:2025-05-14 Online:2025-12-20 Published:2026-01-13
  • Contact: Yuhai Dou,E-mail:y.dou@usst.edu.cn;Ding Yuan,E-mail:d_yuan@usst.edu.cn E-mail:y.dou@usst.edu.cn;d_yuan@usst.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work is financially supported by the National Overseas Postdoctoral Talent Attraction Program, the Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52402288), the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by China Association for Science and Technology (YESS20230183), the Research Fund for International Senior Scientists of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52350710795), and the Yangfan Special Program of Shanghai Star Project.

摘要： With the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions, electrocatalysis has become an essential technology for energy conversion and storage. Despite significant advancements, traditional electrocatalysts still face persistent challenges in enhancing activity and improving stability. Recent studies have shown that vacancy engineering—modifying the atomic structure of materials through the introduction of vacancies—can significantly enhance catalytic efficiency and durability. As such, this approach provides a promising pathway to advance electrocatalysis. This review first explains the mechanisms of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and then provides a comprehensive overview of the application synthesis and characterization of various vacancies strategies, including anionic vacancies, cationic vacancy, and combined anionic–cationic vacancies. The review deeply analyzes the role of vacancies in the electrocatalysts for HER, OER, and overall water splitting. Moreover, the advanced characterization techniques for vacancies are introduced to demonstrate the effects of vacancies from the atomic level. Finally, the review addresses the current challenges and limitations associated with vacancy engineering and proposes potential directions for future research.

关键词: Vacancy engineering, Hydrogen evolution reaction, Oxygen evolution reaction, Overall water splitting

Abstract: With the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions, electrocatalysis has become an essential technology for energy conversion and storage. Despite significant advancements, traditional electrocatalysts still face persistent challenges in enhancing activity and improving stability. Recent studies have shown that vacancy engineering—modifying the atomic structure of materials through the introduction of vacancies—can significantly enhance catalytic efficiency and durability. As such, this approach provides a promising pathway to advance electrocatalysis. This review first explains the mechanisms of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and then provides a comprehensive overview of the application synthesis and characterization of various vacancies strategies, including anionic vacancies, cationic vacancy, and combined anionic–cationic vacancies. The review deeply analyzes the role of vacancies in the electrocatalysts for HER, OER, and overall water splitting. Moreover, the advanced characterization techniques for vacancies are introduced to demonstrate the effects of vacancies from the atomic level. Finally, the review addresses the current challenges and limitations associated with vacancy engineering and proposes potential directions for future research.

Key words: Vacancy engineering, Hydrogen evolution reaction, Oxygen evolution reaction, Overall water splitting

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