Themed collection Frontiers in electrocatalysis for clean energy
![](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/Ajax-GA-Loader.gif)
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Metal–organic frameworks and their derivatives for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction: insights from molecular engineering
Molecular engineering of MOF-based electrocatalysts for the CO2RR, computational simulations, and advanced characterization studies are discussed and summarized to illustrate the correlation between their structure and performance.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 20578-20605
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01330A
Recent progress on electrocatalysts in ammonia electrooxidation reaction for clean hydrogen production
The state-of-the-art electrocatalyst design for improving the efficiency and selectivity of NH3 electrooxidation, contributing to the advancement of sustainable H2 production technologies.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02897J
Exploring the Synergy of Magnetism and Electrocatalysis: A Comprehensive Review on Mechanism, Recent Developments and Future Perspectives
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Accepted Manuscript
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02468K
Balancing the relationship between the activity and stability of anode oxide-based electrocatalysts in acid for PEMWE electrolyzers
This review covers advancements in noble and non-noble metal oxides for acidic OER, emphasizing the evaluation of catalyst instability, and strategies to enhance IrO2, RuO2, and TM oxides.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 18751-18773
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02869D
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Review of carbon-support-free platinum and non-platinum catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells: will they feature in future vehicles?
Carbon-support-free platinum and non-platinum catalysts are reviewed to clarify the source of recent controversial results and to propose experimental conditions for their use in future fuel cell vehicles.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 18636-18673
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02664K
A synergic investigation of experimental and computational dual atom electrocatalysis for CO2 conversion to C1 and C2+ products
This review delves into the applications of DACs for the eCO2RR, highlighting their pivotal role in producing a range of diverse Cn products. DACs, through their synergistic interactions.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 18774-18814
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02860K
Enhancing electrochemical performance and corrosion resistance of nickel-based catalysts in seawater electrolysis: focusing on OER and HER
Hydrogen production by electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using eco-friendly seawater electrolysis can help address the energy shortage.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA03393K
Recent research progress on polyoxometalate-based electrocatalysts in energy generation
Review of POM-based electrocatalysts in the fields of HER, OER, and CO2RR.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 13576-13604
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01636J
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
A review of noble metal-free high entropy alloys for water splitting applications
Nano-sized high entropy alloy (HEA) catalysts have attracted much attention as extraordinary electrocatalysts in water-splitting applications, i.e., the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 9933-9961
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA00690A
Three-dimensional porous NiCoP foam enabled high-performance overall seawater splitting at high current density
Three-dimensional porous NiCoP foam supported on Ni foam is a superb bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall seawater splitting, attaining a large current density of 1000 mA cm−2 at a low cell voltage of 1.97 V with robust stability over 300 hours.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 2680-2684
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TA07898A
Interface-engineered hybrid electrocatalysts of Ti@holey-TiN/layered-double-hydroxides for efficient seawater electrolysis
The introduction of a holey TiN buffer layer on Ti foam enables the catalytic activity of a hybridized layered double hydroxide to be optimized for seawater electrolysis.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 21016-21024
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02886D
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Dissolution of the Ti porous transport layer in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers
Online monitoring of titanium dissolution during operation to understand the degradation pathway of the porous transport layer in water electrolyzers.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02755H
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Improved ammonia production by a Cu2O@poly-carbazole electrocatalysts in the electrochemical reduction of molecular nitrogen and nitrogen oxoanions
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Accepted Manuscript
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02904F
Electro-oxidation of alcohols over electrochemically activated nickel alloys for energy-saving hydrogen production
High-valence metal species generated via in situ electrochemical activation effectively enhance the adsorption of small organic molecules on the alloy surface.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02707H
Location effects of vanadium in NiFe layered double hydroxides for oxygen evolution reaction
V can exist as three vanadium-based species, i.e., doped VIII in LDHs laminates, intercalated VO3− between LDHs interlayers, and free VO3− as an additive in KOH electrolyte. The study shows their role in altering the OER performance of NiFe-LDHs.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA03436H
Stainless steel-derived nano-porous oxide: a cost-efficient, stable, and corrosion-resistant hydrogen evolution catalyst
The nanoporous metal oxide structure derived from stainless steel (SS) exhibits exceptional hydrogen evolution reaction activity and remarkable operational resilience, enduring 50 hours of continuous electrolysis.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA03317E
Zinc-induced polycrystalline transformation of high-entropy fluorides and derived regulatory mechanisms for bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis
Zinc-induced polymorphic transition of high-entropy fluorides to enhance efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 19109-19122
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02866J
Interface engineering and oxygen vacancies derived from plasma-treated Cu2O synergistically enhancing electrocatalytic CO2-to-C2+ conversion
A facile, scalable, standardized and controllable synthesis method for highly active catalysts for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction is demonstrated with well-controlled magnetron sputtering and plasma treatment under different atmospheres.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA03492A
Regulating the selectivity through ionomer–catalyst interactions for high-efficiency electrocatalytic CO2 reduction
The surface morphology and microenvironment of GDEs could be altered through the addition of ionomers to electrodes. It was crucial to consider the potential interactions between the ionomer and the catalyst for better performance.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 17181-17192
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02905D
Deciphering the role of aromatic cations in electrochemical CO2 reduction: interfacial ion assembly governs reaction pathways
Imidazolium cations facilitate electrochemical CO2 reduction by (1) stabilizing CO2˙− with delocalized positive charge (π+) and (2) tuning the transport of proton donors to the electrochemical interface.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 17169-17180
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA02903H
Curvature-switched activity of carbon nanotube-supported single atom catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction
The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is an essential process for hydrogen production through water splitting.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 16476-16481
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01719F
K+ selectivity modulation in non-aqueous CO2 electroreduction on lead catalysts: from oxalic to tartaric acid production
Modulating potassium ions and the proton concentration in the catholyte regulates the faradaic efficiency and selectivity of a Pb plate electrode in non-aqueous media, forming a C4 product from CO2 reduction.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 15829-15836
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01172D
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
From scrap metal to highly efficient electrodes: harnessing the nanotextured surface of swarf for effective utilisation of Pt and Co for hydrogen production
Atomically deposited Pt and Co on nano-grooves result in active and stable electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reactions.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 15137-15144
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA00711E
Cr-dopant induced crystal orientation and shape modulation in Ni2P nanocrystals for improving electrosynthesis of methanol to formate coupled with hydrogen production
Cr-doped Ni2P nanorods enable a two-electrode overall methanol splitting (OMeS) system, achieving a lowest voltage of 1.16 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2, compared to the cell voltage of 1.65 V for overall water splitting.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 15127-15136
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01147C
NiFeCo–OH/NiTe nanoarrays with amorphous/crystalline interfaces for highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction
One-dimensional heterostructured NiFeCo–OH/NiTe nanorod arrays with amorphous/crystalline interfaces have been rationally synthesized, exhibiting an excellent OER electrocatalytic performance.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 13160-13167
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA00772G
Atomically dispersed Ru sites on MOF-derived NC-ZnO for efficient oxygen evolution reaction in acid media
Developing acid-stable oxygen evolution/reduction reaction (OER/ORR) electrocatalysts is essential for high-performance water splitting.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 12533-12544
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA00586D
S-doped TiN supported N, P, S-tridoped TiO2 with hetero-phase junctions for fuel cell startup/shutdown durability
A platinum group metal-free S-doped TiN-supported N, P, S-tridoped TiO2 catalyst with anatase/rutile TiO2 hetero-phase junctions is revealed to display a high durability against fuel cell startup/shutdown cycles not to lose its anion dopants.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 11277-11285
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA01475H
A (μ-oxo) dicopper complex anchoring graphitized mesoporous carbon surface prepared by an in situ electrochemical method for bioinspired electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite to ammonia and sensing
The design and development of functional biomimetic systems that resemble natural enzymes is highly challenging.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 10819-10837
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TA08054D
Synergistic electronic structure modulation of Pt using V2O3 and V8C7 for enhanced deuterium evolution performance
Synergistic electronic metal–support interaction between V2O3/V8C7 and Pt realizes the development of a high-performance deuterium evolution catalyst.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 8724-8733
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA00150H
Microwave-pulse synthesis of tunable 2D porous nickel-enriched LaMnxNi1−xO3 solid solution for efficient electrocatalytic urea oxidation
This work proposes a microwave-pulse method for rapidly synthesizing highly tunable 2D porous nickel-enriched LaMnxNi1−xO3 for a comprehensive understanding of UOR activity mechanisms.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 7047-7057
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA00235K
About this collection
This Journal of Materials Chemistry A themed collection is Guest Edited by Huang Yizhong (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), Anders Hagfeldt (Uppsala University, Sweden), Kelsey Stoerzinger (University of Minnesota, USA) and Ahsan Ul Haq Qurashi (Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates). We hope that this collection will give readers an overview of some of the most recent work concerning the materials chemistry of electrocatalysis for clean energy and will help to promote exciting research in the field.
In this themed collection, the major focus is on materials interplay in the electrochemical microenvironment, long term stability of earth abundant electrocatalysts, frontiers in theoretical understanding of nano-interfaces, role of Operando techniques, Benchmarking C2 products from CO2 reduction and outperforming electrocatalytic materials for other electrochemical reactions.