M.V. Ramos-Garcés, K. La Luz-Rivera, J.L. Colón
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Introduction:
Hydrogen as a fuel has been proposed as a solution to the global energy crisis that we confront. The problem resides in that pure hydrogen is scarce in the atmosphere; it is found mostly in water and other compounds. Hence, schemes for hydrogen production are of much importance in scientific research. For this reason, solar water-splitting devices are being made, but their efficiency are hindered by catalysts that are not very efficient and/or made of precious metals. Most of the efficiency of these devices is limited by overpotential losses of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Hence, to improve the performance of these devices, highly active catalysts must be develop. There are different strategies for developing improved catalysts. One proven method is to support active materials onto supports that engender improved performance. In this study we chose to study zirconium phosphate (ZrP) as support for transition metals to create electrocatalityc systems for OER. ZrP is a very robust material, making it suitable for supporting active species at OER’s harsh pH and oxidative conditions.