The promise of chiral electrocatalysis for efficient and sustainable energy conversion and storage: a comprehensive review of the CISS effect and future directions

Abstract

The integration of chirality, specifically through the chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect, into electrocatalytic processes represents a pioneering approach for enhancing the efficiency of energy conversion and storage systems. This review delves into the burgeoning field of chiral electrocatalysis, elucidating the fundamental principles, historical development, theoretical underpinnings, and practical applications of the CISS effect across a spectrum of electrocatalytic reactions, including the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). We explore the methodological advancements in inducing the CISS effect through structural and surface engineering and discuss various techniques for its measurement, from magnetic conductive atomic force microscopy (mc-AFM) to hydrogen peroxide titration. Furthermore, this review highlights the transformative potential of the CISS effect in addressing the key challenges of the NRR and CO₂RR processes and in mitigating singlet oxygen formation in metal–air batteries, thereby improving their performance and durability. Through this comprehensive overview, we aim to underscore the significant role of incorporating chirality and spin polarization in advancing electrocatalytic technologies for sustainable energy applications.