Role of Plasma in Catalyst Preparation and Modification for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Plasma as a promising solution to catalyst synthesis and modification has received great attention in the field of electrochemical water splitting. However, a comprehensive overview detailing how plasma treatments of catalysts enhance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance is currently lacking. Here, we review the advances and challenges in cold plasma for catalyst preparation and modification. We discuss the underlying mechanisms responsible for enhanced OER performance on plasma-treated catalysts, where the surface area, active sites, vacancy type/content, heteroatom doping, etching, and surface functionalization could be mediated. This review aims to provide valuable insights into the role of plasma treatments in advancing OER electrocatalysis for sustainable energy applications.