Carbon‐Based Substrates for Highly Dispersed Nanoparticle and Even Single‐Atom Electrocatalysts

Abstract

In recent decades, electrocatalysis has become an important research hotspot in energy storage and conversion technologies due to the persistently increasing energy and environmental issues. Nanostructured carbon materials with excellent electrical conductivity, competitive activity, and relatively high chemical stability are extensively studied as either electrocatalysts or substrates to support metal‐based catalysts. Especially, when used as supporting substrates for metal‐based catalysts, carbon‐based materials can not only effectively promote the dispersion of metals and even lead to single‐atom catalysts but also lead to prominent synergistic effects for enhanced activity. This review sheds light on state‐of‐the‐art carbon‐based materials employed as supporting substrates for selected electrocatalytic processes involving H2/O2/CO2/N2. By combining experimental explorations with theoretical computations, clear insight is elaborately afforded into the fundamental relationship between electrocatalytic activity and metal–substrate interaction, in order to disclose some clues for electrocatalyst design. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives are discussed for the future development of carbon‐supported electrocatalysts.

Densely Populated Single Atom Catalysts

“…Electrochemical energy storage and conversion technology have been widely studied to produce sustainable and renewable energy . Many advanced clean energy technologies, such as fuel cells, metal air batteries, and water splitting, etc., require highly active catalysts to lower the energy barrier and increase the reaction rate with an efficient and stable route.…”

Probing the active sites of site-specific nitrogen doping in metal-free graphdiyne for electrochemical oxygen reduction reactions

“…Researchers have made numerous efforts by far to tackle the aforementioned problem [8][9][10][11]. Herein, we have divided these strategies into two directions.…”

Hydrogen Evolution Reaction-From Single Crystal to Single Atom Catalysts

“…Overview of general wisdom on supported catalysts and current knowledge on electrocatalytic HER is summarized in References [41][42][43]. Several fresh reviews deal with more specific catalyst and/or support materials, such as References [44][45][46] for carbon-based supports, References [47,48] for metal-organic frameworks, Reference [49] for 1D and 2D noble metals, and other specific materials in References [50][51][52]. A recent overview of heterostructured HER electrocatalysts can be found in Reference [53].…”