Application of atomic layer deposition in fabricating high-efficiency electrocatalysts

Abstract

Electrocatalysis is a promising approach to clean energy conversion due to its high efficiency and low environmental pollution. Noble metal materials have been studied to show high activity toward electrocatalyltic reactions, although such applications remain restricted by the high cost and poor durability of the noble metals. By precisely adjusting the catalyst composition, size, and structure, electrocatalysts with excellent performance can be obtained. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a technique used to produce ultrathin films and ultrafine nanoparticles at the atomic level. It possesses unique advantages for the controllable design and synthesis of electrocatalysts. Furthermore, the homogenous composition and structure of the electrocatalysts prepared by ALD favor the exploration of structure-reactivity relationships and catalytic mechanisms. In this review, the mechanism, characteristics, and advantages of ALD in fabricating nanostructures are introduced first. Subsequently, the problems associated with existing electrocatalysts and a series of recently developed ALD strategies to enhance the activity and durability of electrocatalysts are presented. For example, the deposition of ultrafine Pt nanoparticles to increase the utilization and activity of Pt, fabrication of core-shell, overcoat, nanotrap, and other novel structures to protect the noble-metal nanoparticles and enhance the catalyst stability. In addition, ALD developments in synthesizing non-noble metallic electrocatalysts are summarized and discussed. Finally, based on the current studies, an outlook for the ALD application in the design and synthesis of electrocatalysts is presented.

Spillover in Heterogeneous Catalysis: New Insights and Opportunities

“…ALD exhibits unique advantages in designing and fabricating advanced catalysts. − For example, we studied the spillover-promoted synergistic effect of bicomponent catalysts by designing a series of single-component TiO 2 /Pt, closely contacting CoO x Pt/TiO 2 , spatially separated CoO x /TiO 2 /Pt, and CoO x /TiO 2 /Pt/TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 /CoO x /TiO 2 /Pt through a template-assisted ALD strategy (Figure a). The CoO x -Pt proximity in the CoO x /TiO 2 /Pt catalysts was precisely controlled by adjusting the thickness of the TiO 2 layer.…”

Antimicrobial Bilayer Nanocomposites Based on the Incorporation of As-Synthetized Hollow Zinc Oxide Nanotubes

“…One of the advantages that most attracts the attention of this technique is the ability to generate a unique uniform deposition, which allows the thickness of the film to be controlled by the amount of ALD cycles and, in addition, complex three-dimensional surfaces can be uniformly coated. These characteristics give it a great versatility that have allowed its application in a wide variety of areas, such as microelectronics, energy storage systems, water treatment, catalysis, and medicine and biology [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Nevertheless, the combination of EP and ALD has been scarcely used to synthesize nanoparticles with antimicrobial purposes.…”

Electrochemical Activation of Atomic-Layer-Deposited Nickel Oxide for Water Oxidation

“…Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a promising technique for developing electrocatalysts, and it has garnered major attention. − ALD enables precise control over the growth of thin films and results in conformal and uniform coatings on various substrates. , This capability extends to the deposition of complex 3D structures, making ALD a valuable tool in electrocatalysis. This feature not only increases the concentration of active sites for catalytic reactions but also promotes efficient mass transport of reactants .…”