Recent Progress on Two-dimensional Electrocatalysis

Abstract

Due to their unique electronic and structural properties triggered by high atomic utilization and easy su rface modification, two-dimensional(2D) materials have prodigious potential in electrocatalysis for energy conversion technology in recent years. In this review, we discuss the recent progress on two-dimensional nanomaterials for electrocatalysis. Five categories including metals, transition metal compounds, non-metal, metal-organic framework and other emerging 2D nanomaterials are successively introduced. Finally, the challenges and future development directions of 2D materials for electrocatalysis are also prospected. We hope this review may be helpful for guiding the design and application of 2D nanomaterials in energy conversion technologies.

Preparation of nickel-iron hydroxides by microorganism corrosion for efficient oxygen evolution

“…Oxygen evolution is of great significance in several energy conversion systems including rechargeable metal-air batteries and water electrolysis devices 1 – 4 . However, the sluggish kinetics in the complicated multiple proton/electron-processes requires highly efficient electrocatalysts 5 , 6 .…”

Boosting pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution of Molybdenum Disulfide Particles by Interfacial Engineering†

“…MoS 2 , which is normally a layered material belonging to layered metal chalcogenide materials with the general formula MX 2 (M: a metal; X: S, Se, or Te), [ 21 ] was found to be an effective HER catalyst in 1977, [ 22 ] but this catalyst didn't receive great attention. About 30 years later, both experimental and theoretical studies have proven that the active sites of this kind of layered materials stem from the edges, rather than the insert crystal planes.…”

Engineering 2D Photocatalysts toward Carbon Dioxide Reduction

“…Among them, 2D photocatalysts have drawn immense attention in terms of their planar structure and ultrathin thickness, which endow several unique chemical and physical properties including: 1) a large specific surface area with thoroughly accessible active sites facilitates the profound interaction with the absorbates, [ 7 ] 2) nanoscale thickness or even reduced to sub‐nanometer level minimizes the migration distance of photogenerated carriers, guaranteeing the swift transportation of photoinduced carriers from bulk phase to the catalyst surface, thus mitigating the inherent electron‐hole pairs recombination, [ 8 ] and 3) the unique 2D flexible planar structure boosts excellent compatibility with multiple modification strategies such as heterojunction construction, co‐catalyst modification, vacancy introduction, etc., thereby further improving the quantum efficiency of the photocatalytic system. [ 9,10 ] The first demonstration of 2D nanosheets in material science grid can be dated back to 2004, when Geim et al. successfully obtained monoatomic graphene exfoliated by a scotch tape.…”