Recent advances in engineering Pt-based crystal electrocatalysts: boosting direct dehydrogenation to enhance formic acid oxidation

Abstract

The development of highly active and selective Pt-based crystal electrocatalysts for the direct oxidation of formic acid (FA) is critical to advancing the commercialization of direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in synthesizing efficient electrocatalysts for the formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) due to the proposal of multiple advanced strategies. To deepen the understanding of the reaction mechanism and the structure–performance relationship, this review presents a comprehensive assessment of recent advances in engineering Pt-based crystal catalysts to enhance the FAOR performance. Special focus is placed on the design of poison-resistant Pt-based crystal catalysts, which enable the direct dehydrogenation of FA based on insights into catalytic mechanisms. Furthermore, the influences of these engineering strategies on reaction mechanisms are also highlighted, which is expected to facilitate the development of more efficient electrocatalysts for the FAOR. Finally, a concise summary of the current research status and future prospects in the field of FAOR is provided.