Self-Supported Earth-Abundant Nanoarrays as Efficient and Robust Electrocatalysts for Energy-Related Reactions

Abstract

The replacement of precious-metal-based catalysts with earth-abundant alternatives for a diverse range of electrochemical applications is of great importance for next-generation energy technologies. Many self-supported earth-abundant nanoarrays have emerged as state-of-the-art electrocatalysts due to their fascinating structures and electrochemical properties. This Review presents recent advances made toward developing self-supported earth-abundant nanoarrays for a wide range of energy-conversion processes. We summarize the different synthetic methods used to construct nanoarrays and tune their compositions, morphologies, and structures. Then, we highlight their application and performance as catalysts for various energy-related reactions. We also discuss their ability to perform as bifunctional electrocatalysts in energy devices. Finally, we conclude with the challenges and prospects in this promising field, where further exploration into these materials will facilitate the development of next-generation energy technologies.

Molecular Engineering of a 3D Self‐Supported Electrode for Oxygen Electrocatalysis in Neutral Media

“…Co corrole 1 is active and robust to catalyze OER and ORR . The 3D self‐supported Fe 3 O 4 NR/TM has advantages to offer large electrochemical surface area and to ensure rapid charge transfer and mass diffusion . Fe 3 O 4 is chosen because it is conductive and it alone has poor OER and ORR activities at neutral pH.…”

Rational Design of Holey 2D Nonlayered Transition Metal Carbide/Nitride Heterostructure Nanosheets for Highly Efficient Water Oxidation

“…[34] Moreover, the real application of the related devices is impeded by the large OER overpotential. [35] A very recent study has inspired us to believe that N-Mo-C interfaces in the Mo 2 C-Mo 2 N heterojunctions can promote the OER performance besides HER enhancement. [25] To investigate the electrocatalytic OER performance in 1 m KOH solution, commercial Ni foams with the size of 1 cm × 2 cm were used as a conductive substrate to support the catalysts by drop-coating (see the Experimental Section).…”

A General Two‐Step Strategy–Based High‐Throughput Screening of Single Atom Catalysts for Nitrogen Fixation

“…A green and sustainable way for NH 3 production is thus of great importance. Inspired by the nitrogenase enzymes in bacteria that can run nitrogen fixation (N 2 + 6H + + 6e − = 2NH 3 ) at ambient conditions, electrocatalytic and photo(electro)catalytic N 2 reduction reaction (NRR) has been proposed and regarded as an attractive and promising way for green and sustainable NH 3 production . However, the extremely high stability of N 2 makes a highly active catalyst urgently needed to lower the energy consumption, which remains a coveted goal for chemists so far …”