Mechanistic insight into hydrothermally prepared molybdenum-based electrocatalyst for overall water splitting

Electrochemical water splitting is a technology that is gaining traction in the quest for zero-carbon energy and has the potential to produce enough hydrogen to meet the world's growing demand for sustainable and clean energy. It is still essential to develop inexpensive catalysts to replace noble metals like platinum or ruthenium in large-scale hydrogen production. Molybdenum (Mo)-based electrocatalysts have become extremely popular because of their high activity and wide pH range stability. The hydrothermal method is widely used among different synthetic methods due to its environmental friendliness. In this review, we briefly discuss the mechanistic insight of hydrothermally prepared Mo-based electrocatalysts for overall water splitting application. First, we cover some essential concepts and important aspects of water splitting and then discuss the fundamental processes by which oxygen and hydrogen evolve. Finally, the mechanistic understanding of several Mo-based electrocatalysts (monometallic, bimetallic, trimetallic, etc.) for total water splitting has been summarized. Additionally, we highlight novel strategies and impending challenges in the design and synthesis of high-performance electrocatalysts.