Masa, JustusSchuhmann, Wolfgang2022-11-162022-11-162019Masa, J., & Schuhmann, W. (2019). The role of non‐metallic and metalloid elements on the electrocatalytic activity of cobalt and nickel catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. ChemCatChem, 11(24), 5842-5854.https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201901151https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/5271Compounds and alloys of cobalt and nickel with some nonmetals (N, P, S, Se) and metalloids (C, B, C, As and Te) have emerged as very promising noble metal-free pre-catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolytes. However, the exact role played by the non-metals and metalloids in promoting the OER is not well understood. A holistic understanding of the origin of the OER activity enhancement in these compounds is vital for their exploitation as models to inspire knowledge-guided design of improved OER catalysts. In this review, we elucidate the factors that govern the activity and stability of OER catalysts derived from MX compounds (M=Co or Ni, and X=nonmetal or metalloid), including the impact of surface electronic structure, M : X stoichiometry, material composition, structure and crystallinity, as well as the role of oxoanions on the properties of the electrochemical double layer and interaction energies of the reaction intermediates. Finally, we outline a few perspectives and research directions towards a deeper understanding of the role of the nonmetal and metalloid elements and design of improved OER catalysts.enArticle