The rational design of multifunctional catalysts that use non-noble metals to facilitate the interconversion between H2, O2, and H2O is an intense area of investigation. Bimetallic nanosystems with highly tunable electronic, structural, and catalytic properties that depend on their composition, structure, and size have attracted considerable attention. Herein, we report the synthesis of bimetallic nickel–copper (NiCu) alloy nanoparticles confined in a sp2 carbon framework that exhibits trifunctional catalytic properties toward hydrogen evolution (HER), oxygen reduction (ORR), and oxygen evolution (OER) reactions. The electrocatalytic functions of the NiCu nanoalloys were experimentally and theoretically correlated with the composition-dependent local structural distortion of the bimetallic lattice at the nanoparticle surfaces. Our study demonstrated a downshift of the d-band of the catalysts that adjusts the binding energies of the intermediate catalytic species. XPS analysis revealed that the binding energy for Ni 2p3/2 band of the Ni0.25Cu0.75/C nanoparticles was shifted ∼3 times compared to other bimetallic systems, and this was correlated to the high electrocatalytic activity observed. Interestingly, the bimetallic Ni0.25Cu0.75/C catalyst surpassed the OER performance of RuO2 benchmark catalyst exhibiting a small onset potential of 1.44 V vs RHE and an overpotential of 400 mV at 10 mA·cm–2 as well as the electrochemical long-term stability of commercial RuO2 and Pt catalysts and kept at least 90% of the initial current applied after 20 000 s for the OER/ORR/HER reactions. This study reveals significant insight about the structure–function relationship for non-noble bimetallic nanostructures with multifunctional electrocatalytic properties.

Mechanochemistry has emerged as one of the most interesting synthetic protocols to produce new materials. Solvent-free methodologies lead to unique chemical processes during synthesis with the consequent formation of nanomaterials with new properties. The development of mechanochemistry as a synthetic method is supported by excellent results in a wide range of applications. This feature highlights some representative contributions focused on protocols that could be easily extended to the synthesis of other advanced nanomaterials. Materials for batteries, supercapacitors, and catalytic processes are discussed, indicating the potential future directions of each field. Theoretical aspects and a revision of recent real in situ analyses of the synthesis procedures are also featured. This contribution attempts to present, in a comprehensive way, mechanochemistry as an open research line and a consolidated methodology to synthesize advanced nanomaterials.

The development of low-dimensional (LD) supramolecular materials with multifunctional electrocatalytic properties has sparked the attention of the catalysis community. Herein, we report the synthesis of a new class of 0D−2D heterostructures composed of boron carbon nitride nanosheets (BCN NSs) and fullerene molecules (C 60 /F) that exhibit multifunctional electrocatalytic properties for the hydrogen evolution/oxidation reactions (HER/HOR) and the oxygen evolution/reduction reactions (OER/ORR). The electrocatalytic properties were studied with varying F:BCN weight ratios to optimize the intermolecular electron transfer (ET) from the BCN NSs to the electron-accepting C 60 molecules. The nanohybrid supramolecular material with 10 wt % F in BCN NSs (10% F/BCN) exhibited the largest Raman and C 1s binding energy shifts, which were associated with greater cooperativity interactions and enhanced ET processes at the F/BCN interface. This synergistic interfacial phenomenon resulted in highly active catalytic sites that markedly boosted electrocatalytic activity of the material. The 10% F/BCN showed the highest tetrafunctional catalytic performance, outperforming the OER catalytic activity of commercial RuO 2 catalysts with a η 10 of 390 mV and very competitive onset potential values of −0.042 and 0.92 V vs RHE for HER and ORR, respectively, and a current density value of 1.47 mA cm −2 at 0.1 V vs RHE with an ultralow ΔG H* value of −0.03 eV toward the HOR process. Additionally, the 10% F/BCN catalyst was also used as both cathode and anode in a water splitting device, delivering a cell potential of 1.61 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm −2 .

Platinum (Pt)-based-nanomaterials are currently the most successful catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in electrochemical energy conversion devices such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Nonetheless, Pt catalysts have serious drawbacks, including low abundance in nature, sluggish kinetics, and very high costs, which limit their practical applications. Herein, we report the first rationally designed nonprecious Co–Cu bimetallic metal–organic framework (MOF) using a low-temperature hydrothermal method that outperforms the electrocatalytic activity of Pt/C for ORR in alkaline environments. The MOF catalyst surpassed the ORR performance of Pt/C, exhibiting an onset potential of 1.06 V vs RHE, a half-wave potential of 0.95 V vs RHE, and a higher electrochemical stability (ΔE 1/2 = 30 mV) after 1000 ORR cycles in 0.1 M NaOH. Additionally, it outperformed Pt/C in terms of power density and cyclability in zinc-air batteries. This outstanding behavior was attributed to the unique electronic synergy of the Co−Cu bimetallic centers in the MOF network, which was revealed by XPS and PDOS.

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carbon dioxide reduction, which can also be driven by clean and renewable energies such as wind, solar and hydropower resources, represent crucial steps of these renewable energy devices. However, the performances of these chemical reactions strongly rely on the energy storage and conversion efficiencies of the catalytic materials deposited on the electrodes. [6][7][8][9][10] Therefore, the development of robust and earth-abundant catalysts with both high catalytic activity and selectivity play a critical role in the real application of these devices.Current catalysts for energy-related chemical reactions are heavily dependent on noble metals, which impedes their large potential commercialization. [11][12][13] Further, the catalytic process mostly occurred on the metal surfaces, leading to the very low utilization efficiency of the catalysts. To minimize the waste of the non-accessible atoms in the bulk metals, researchers developed several strategies to modify metal structures in order to expose as many metal atoms as possible. [10,[14][15][16][17][18] One of the most popular methods is to downsize the solid metal catalysts to the atomic level (Figure 1). More interestingly, the catalytic behaviors of the metal catalysts with different sizes have significantly Atomic catalysts (AC) are gaining extensive research interest as the most active new frontier in heterogeneous catalysis due to their unique electronic structures and maximum atom-utilization efficiencies. Among all the atom catalysts, atomically dispersed heteronuclear dual-atom catalysts (HDACs), which are featured with asymmetric active sites, have recently opened new pathways in the field of advancing atomic catalysis. In this review, the up-todate investigations on heteronuclear dual-atom catalysts together with the last advances on their theoretical predictions and experimental constructions are summarized. Furthermore, the current experimental synthetic strategies and accessible characterization techniques for these kinds of atomic catalysts, are also discussed. Finally, the crucial challenges in both theoretical and experimental aspects, as well as the future prospects of HDACs for energy-related applications are provided. It is believed that this review will inspire the rational design and synthesis of the new generation of highly effective HDACs.

Environmental catalysis plays a crucial role in sustainable development by the design of novel catalytic materials and technologies. Several environmental issues are addressed by catalytic processes such as decomposition of pollutants for air, water and soil remediation, hydrogen production, CO2 reduction and biomass valorization, just to name a few. This contribution aims to provide a general overview of the main concepts and current advances in the environmental catalysis field. Special attention has been paid to photocatalysis and electrocatalysis, as sub‐areas of catalysis with tremendous potential in sustainable applications, in particular with regard to the promotion of sustainable energies. In this contribution, the partnership between Catalysis and Green Chemistry is presented, in a comprehensive way, as an open research line which is imperative and decisive for a more sustainable future.

The development of LD heterostructure nanomaterials represents a powerful strategy totailor the electrocatalytic function of several interfacial active sites at the subnanometer level.