Progress in Base‐Metal Water Oxidation Catalysis

Abstract This minireview provides a brief overview of the progress that has been made in developing homogeneous water oxidation catalysts based on base metals (manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper) from the 1990s to mid‐2014. The impact of each contribution is analyzed, and opportunities for further improvement are noted. In addition, the relative stabilities of the base‐metal catalysts that have been reported are compared to illustrate the importance of developing more robust catalytic systems by using these metals. This manuscript is intended to provide a firm foundation for researchers entering the field of water oxidation based on base metals and a useful reference for those currently involved in the field.