Cation‐Tuning Engineering on Metal Oxides for Oxygen Electrocatalysis

Cation‐tuning engineering has become a new frontier in altering the electronic structure of electrocatalysts, which has been employed to enhance their electrochemical performance. Significant efforts have been made to promote the electrochemical performance of transition metal‐based materials during oxygen electrocatalysis and related energy devices such as Zn‐air batteries. Herein, the advantages of cation‐tuning engineering, including cation vacancies/defects and cation doping, in the modification of the electronic structure of transition metal oxide catalysts are discussed. Additionally, practical applications of the cation‐tuning engineering strategy are reviewed in detail with a special emphasis on oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction. Lastly, challenges and future opportunities in this field are also proposed. The cation‐tuning engineering strategy as a new emerging frontier has attracted significant attention for transition metal‐based catalysts. Its advantages are summarized with special emphasis on altering the electronic structure and charge distribution of transition metal‐based catalysts. This Concept also reviews its application for the oxygen reduction reaction, the oxygen evolution reaction, and Zn air batteries, and also proposes future opportunities.