@article{Liu2026, 
author = {Xiangyu Liu and Lirong Zhang and Jiaran Fu and Peishan Xiao and Hao Hu and Ke Yang and Huan Ren and Qingnuan Zhang and Weiyu Shi and Jiangwei Zhang},
title = {Polyoxometalates for Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysis: From Molecular Active Motifs to Interfacial Regulators and Practical Electrolyzers},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research Energy},
keywords = {Polyoxometalates, Oxygen evolution reaction, Interfacial electronic regulation, Active-phase reconstruction, High-current-density electrolysis},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NRE.2026.9120283},
doi = {10.26599/NRE.2026.9120283},
abstract = {The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains the principal kinetic bottleneck in water electrolysis because its multistep proton-electron transfer is coupled with dynamic structural evolution under anodic bias. Beyond the intrinsic four-electron barrier, practical operation is constrained by metal dissolution, phase reconstruction, interfacial instability, and catalyst-layer degradation at high current densities. Polyoxometalates (POMs), featuring structurally programmable metal-oxygen clusters, reversible multielectron redox chemistry, oxygen-rich surfaces, and versatile coordination sites, offer a distinctive platform for addressing these challenges. This review analyzes the evolution of POMs from discrete molecular catalysts to confined guests, interfacial electronic regulators, reconstruction-directing units, and stabilization modules in OER electrocatalysts. Particular emphasis is placed on how POM structure and interfacial bonding modify metal valence, orbital hybridization, charge transfer, d-band characteristics, and intermediate adsorption energetics, and how these effects govern activity and durability. The discussion further extends to high-current-density electrolysis, saline media, membrane-electrode assemblies, and device-level validation. Key unresolved issues include identification of the true active phase, definition of pH-potential-time stability windows, conductivity and loading limitations, and POM leaching. A six-pathway framework is finally proposed to connect representative POM states with the elementary OER steps and guide mechanism-informed catalyst design. This framework highlights priorities for scalable, durable, and predictable electrolyzer implementation.}
}