Progress in base-metal water oxidation catalysis

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.