Insights into the Dynamic Evolution of Defects in Electrocatalysts

Abstract

This review focuses on the formation and preparation of defects, the dynamic evolution process of defects, and the influence of defect dynamic evolution on catalytic reactions. The summary of the current advances in the dynamic evolution process of defects in oxygen evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, and carbon dioxide reduction reaction, and the given perspectives are expected to provide a more comprehensive understanding of defective electrocatalysts on the structural evolution process during electrocatalysis and the reaction mechanisms, especially for the defect dynamic evolution on the performance in catalytic reactions.

Hybrid Co/CoO/Ce-Doped WO3 Nanoparticles on a ZIF-L Framework as Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries

“…ORR/OER electrocatalysts require unique hierarchical pore structures to facilitate the gas–liquid–solid triphase reactions . Therefore, FE-SEM was performed to study the morphology of the preprepared materials.…”

“…Initially, ORR/OER electrocatalysts require unique hierarchical pore structures to facilitate the gas−liquid−solid triphase reactions. 40 Therefore, FE-SEM was performed to study the morphology of the preprepared materials. As shown in Figures S2 and 2c, PZF-1-700−PZF-3-700 fabricated with different amounts of Ce-POT exhibit a bougainvillea speetabilis-like nanoflower shape, but ZIF-L-700 prepared without Ce-POT exhibits an amorphous morphology, suggesting that Ce-POT can be used as a surfactant in catalyst preparation (Figure S2c).…”

Vacancy designed 2D materials for electrodes in energy storage devices

“…By changing the intrinsic properties of the electrode materials, defect engineering also plays an important role in achieving fast reaction kinetics. [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] The role of crystalline defects on the electrochemical performance of electrodes has progressively been recognized though the advancement in characterization techniques, as well as in-depth theoretical studies. Several types of defects with different dimensionalities are always present in the crystalline solids, like point defects (0D), line defects (1D), planar defects (2D), and volume defects (3D).…”

Defect-Rich NiFeAl-Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

“…Defect engineering is effective in adjusting the chemical environment of reactive active sites and the coordination valence state of electrocatalysts. − The introduction of vacancy defects on electrode surface helps facilitates the formation of unsaturated metal centers that can improve the intrinsic activity of reaction sites. According to the existing reports, the preparation methods of cation-rich vacancy layered hydroxides include plasma stripping, high-temperature reduction, etching, and aprotic solvation, which induce metal cation leakage and vacancy defect production. , For example, an efficient radio-frequency plasma treatment strategy has been employed by He et al to achieve sulfur vacancies and oxygen vacancies in electrocatalysts, and the vacancy structure can effectively improve the OER properties of the material.…”