Single Atom Catalysts for Fuel Cells and Rechargeable Batteries: Principles, Advances, and Opportunities

Low-Concentration Electrolyte Engineering for Rechargeable Batteries

Low-concentration electrolytes (LCEs) present significant potential for actual applications because of their cost-effectiveness, low viscosity, reduced side reactions, and wide-temperature electrochemical stability. However, current electrolyte research predominantly focuses on regulation strategies for conventional 1 m electrolytes, high-concentration electrolytes, and localized high-concentration electrolytes, leaving design principles, optimization methods, and prospects of LCEs inadequately summarized. LCEs face unique challenges that cannot be addressed by the existing theories and approaches applicable to the three common electrolytes mentioned above; thus, tailored strategies to provide development guidance are urgently needed. Herein, a systematic overview of recent progress in LCEs is provided and subsequent development directions are suggested. This review proposes the core challenge of the high solvent ratio in LCEs, which triggers unstable organic-enriched electrolyte/electrode interface formation and anion depletion near the anode. On the basis of these issues, modification strategies for LCEs, including passivation interface construction and solvent‒anion interaction optimization, are used in various rechargeable battery systems. Finally, the role of advanced simulations and cutting-edge characterization techniques in revealing LCE failure mechanisms is further highlighted, offering new perspectives for their future development and practical application in next-generation rechargeable batteries.

Patterned Surface Energy for Modulating Solid-Liquid Interfacial Properties

Surface energy, as an intrinsic property of solids, plays a crucial role in modulating the characteristics of solid surfaces, especially of the solid-liquid interface. Due to inevitable processes such as surface adsorption or contamination, the surface energy of practical solids is usually nonuniform. However, if this nonuniformity is rationally designed and effectively utilized, it is capable of endowing great potential for liquid manipulation. With the rapid development of microfabrication and surface modification techniques, a variety of artificial patterned surface energy surfaces (PSESs) have been fabricated, which extend the diversity, tunability, and precision of liquid-based applications. In this review, we discuss the regulation of solid-liquid interface properties with PSESs from a relatively macroscopic perspective, particularly focusing on how to control matter and energy through rational design. First, we provide a brief introduction about the definition and significance of PSESs. Then, matter selective adhesion by PSESs is summarized, including liquid dynamics regulation, crystallization inducement, and biosample self-distribution. In the following, we discuss how PSESs regulate physical fields, including the thermal field, electric field, and acoustic field, with an explanation centered on discontinuous solid-liquid contact on PSESs. Finally, associated challenges of surface energy regulation for liquid-based scenarios are included.

Engineering Au single-atom sites embedded in TiO2 nanostructures for boosting photocatalytic methane oxidation

Photocatalytic methane oxidation under mild conditions using single-atom catalysts remains an advanced technology. In this work, gold single atoms (Au SAs) were introduced onto TiO2 nanostructures using a simple method. The resulting performance demonstrated effective conversion of methane into H2 and C2 products at room temperature. The as-synthesized Au SA/TiO2 exhibited a high hydrogen production rate of 2190 μmol g-1, with selectivity reaching up to 58% under optimized conditions. The methane oxidation mechanism was investigated, revealing a methyl radical pathway for generating value-added chemicals. This research provides a strategy for photocatalytic methane conversion over single-atom-supported photocatalysts.

A Bifunctional Iron-Nickel Oxygen Reduction/Oxygen Evolution Catalyst for High-Performance Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries

Efficient and robust electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are crucial for fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and other energy technologies. Here, a highly stable, efficient bifunctional OER/ORR electrocatalyst (FeNi-NC@MWCNTs) is reported and demonstrated its integration and robust performance in an aqueous Zinc-air battery (ZAB). The catalyst is based on neighboring iron/nickel sites (FeNiN6) which are atomically dispersed on porous nitrogen-doped carbon particles. The particles are wrapped in electrically conductive multi-walled carbon nanotubes for enhanced electrical conductivity. Electrocatalytic analyses show high OER and ORR performance (OER/ORR voltage difference = 0.69 V). Catalyst integration in a ZAB results in excellent performance metrics, including an open circuit voltage of 1.44 V, a specific capacity of 782 mAh g-1 (at j = 15 mA cm-2), a peak power density of 218 mW cm-2 (at j = 260 mA cm-2) and long-term durability over 600 charge/discharge cycles. Combined experimental and theoretical (density functional theory) analyses provide an in-depth understanding of the physical and electronic structure of the catalyst and the role of the FeNi dual atom reaction site. The study therefore provides critical insights into the structure and reactivity of high-performance bifunctional OER/ORR catalysts based on atomically dispersed non-critical metals.

Single Atom Engineered Antibiotics Overcome Bacterial Resistance

The outbreak of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or "superbugs", poses a global public health hazard due to their resilience against the most effective last-line antibiotics. Identifying potent antibacterial agents capable of evading bacterial resistance mechanisms represents the ultimate defense strategy. This study shows that -the otherwise essential micronutrient- manganese turns into a broad-spectrum potent antibiotic when coordinated with a carboxylated nitrogen-doped graphene. This antibiotic material (termed NGA-Mn) not only inhibits the growth of a wide spectrum of multidrug-resistant bacteria but also heals wounds infected by bacteria in vivo and, most importantly, effectively evades bacterial resistance development. NGA-Mn exhibits up to 25-fold higher cytocompatibility to human cells than its minimum bacterial inhibitory concentration, demonstrating its potential as a next-generation antibacterial agent. Experimental findings suggest that NGA-Mn acts on the outer side of the bacterial cell membrane via a multimolecular collective binding, blocking vital functions in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The results underscore the potential of single-atom engineering toward potent antibiotics, offering simultaneously a long-sought solution for evading drug resistance development while being cytocompatible to human cells.

Single Atom Catalysts Based on Earth-Abundant Metals for Energy-Related Applications

Anthropogenic activities related to population growth, economic development, technological advances, and changes in lifestyle and climate patterns result in a continuous increase in energy consumption. At the same time, the rare metal elements frequently deployed as catalysts in energy related processes are not only costly in view of their low natural abundance, but their availability is often further limited due to geopolitical reasons. Thus, electrochemical energy storage and conversion with earth-abundant metals, mainly in the form of single-atom catalysts (SACs), are highly relevant and timely technologies. In this review the application of earth-abundant SACs in electrochemical energy storage and electrocatalytic conversion of chemicals to fuels or products with high energy content is discussed. The oxygen reduction reaction is also appraised, which is primarily harnessed in fuel cell technologies and metal-air batteries. The coordination, active sites, and mechanistic aspects of transition metal SACs are analyzed for two-electron and four-electron reaction pathways. Further, the electrochemical water splitting with SACs toward green hydrogen fuel is discussed in terms of not only hydrogen evolution reaction but also oxygen evolution reaction. Similarly, the production of ammonia as a clean fuel via electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction is portrayed, highlighting the potential of earth-abundant single metal species.

Modulation of d-Orbital Interactions in Dual-Atom Catalysts for Enhanced Polysulfide Anchoring and Kinetics in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Modulating the electronic structure is essential for improving the anchoring and catalytic capabilities of catalysts in lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). This study delves into the modulation of d-orbitals in transition metal dual-atom catalysts (DACs) supported by boron nitride and graphene (BNC) hybrid sheets for LSBs. This study reveals that the d-band center of the DACs, a key determinant of material chemical properties, is primarily determined by the electronic configuration of the dyz and dx2-y2 orbitals. Furthermore, the interaction between dz2 of transition metals and S_3 p orbitals is critical for the binding strength of LiPSs. By understanding these interactions, the functionality of DACs can be customized for optimal performance in LSBs. For example, the MnCrBNC catalyst with 10 d-electrons exhibits the optimal d-band center and demonstrates exceptional LiPSs binding capability, the lowest Li2S decomposition energy barrier, and the lowest Gibbs free energy of reaction for the rate-determining step of sulfur reduction. This study elucidates the fundamental mechanisms for designing high-performance LSB catalysts through electronic structure modulation.

Compressively Strained Fe3O4 in Core-Shell Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalyst Boosts Zinc-Air Battery Performance

Fe3O4 is barely taken into account as an electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), an important reaction for metal-air batteries and fuel cells, due to its sluggish catalytic kinetics and poor electron conductivity. Herein, how strain engineering can be employed to regulate the local electronic structure of Fe3O4 for high ORR activity is reported. Compressively strained Fe3O4 shells with 2.0% shortened Fe─O bond are gained on the Fe/Fe4N cores as a result of lattice mismatch at the interface. A downshift of the d-band center occurs for compressed Fe3O4, leading to weakened chemisorption energy of oxygenated intermediates, and lower reaction overpotential. The compressed Fe3O4 exhibits greatly enhanced electrocatalytic ORR activity with a kinetic current density of 27 times higher than that of pristine one at 0.80 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode), as well as potential application in zinc-air batteries. The findings provide a new strategy for tuning electronic structures and improving the catalytic activity of other metal catalysts.

N, S Co-Doped Carbon Nanotubes Loaded With Cu Nanoclusters For Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Developing highly superior precious-metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are challenging and great significance. In this study, it is reported that an efficient ORR catalysts with N and S co-doped carbon nanotubes anchored to copper (Cu) nanoclusters by mechanical grinding and high temperature heat treatment. The obtained Cu-S1-N-C electrocatalysts exhibited a high ORR performance with an onset potential (Eonest) of 0.989 V and a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.905 V (vs. RHE) in alkaline electrolyte, which was superior to that of commercial Pt/C catalyst. In contrast to N doping alone, the defect structures and active species of the catalysts were optimized by precise modulation of S-atom doping, and moreover, the introduction of S-atoms provided more thiophene-sulfur active sites. This study provides an innovative idea for designing excellent ORR catalysts.

Hierarchically Interconnected 3D Catalyst Structure of Porous Multi-Metal Oxide Nanofibers for High-Performance Li-O2 Batteries

Non-aqueous lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) have emerged as a promising candidate due to their high theoretical energy density and eco-friendly cathode reaction materials. However, LOBs still suffer from high overpotential and poor cycling stability resulting from difficulties in the decomposition of discharge reaction Li2O2 products. Here, a 3D open network catalyst structure is proposed based on highly-thin and porous multi-metal oxide nanofibers (MMONFs) developed by a facile electrospinning approach coupled with a heat treatment process. The developed hierarchically interconnected 3D porous MMONFs catalyst structure with high specific surface area and porosity shows the enhanced electrochemical reaction kinetics associated with Li2O2 formation and decomposition on the cathode surface during the charge and discharge processes. The uniquely assembled cathode materials with MMONFs exhibit excellent electrochemical performance with energy efficiency of 82% at a current density of 50 mA g-1 and a long-term cycling stability over 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1 with a cut-off capacity of 500 mAh g-1. Moreover, the optimized cathode materials exhibit a remarkable energy density of 1013 Wh kg-1 at the 100th discharge and charge cycle, which is nearly four times higher than that of C/NMC721, which has the highest energy density among the cathode materials currently used in electric vehicles.

Optimization of the Form Factors of Advanced Li-S Pouch Cells

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries hold immense promise as next-generation energy storage due to their high theoretical energy density (2600 Wh kg⁻¹), low cost, and non-toxic nature. However, practical implementation faces challenges, primarily from Li polysulfide (LiPS) shuttling within the cathode and Li dendrite growth at the anode. Optimized electrodes/electrolytes design effectively confines LiPS to the cathode, boosting cycling performance in coin cells to up to hundreds of cycles. Scaling up to larger pouch cells presents new obstacles, requiring further research for long-term stability. A 1.45 Ah pouch cell, with optimized sulfur loading and electrolyte/sulfur ratio is developed, which delivers an energy density of 151 Wh kg-1 with 70% capacity retention up to 100 cycles. Targeting higher energy density (180 Wh kg-1), the developed 1Ah pouch cell exhibits 68% capacity retention after 50 cycles. Morphological analysis reveals that pouch cell failure is primarily from Li metal powdering and resulting polarization, rather than LiPS shuttling. This occurs for continuous Li ion stripping/plating during cycling, leading to dendrite growth and formation of non-reactive Li powder, especially under high currents. These issues increase ion diffusion resistance and reduce coulombic efficiency over time. Therefore, the study highlights the importance of a protected Li metal anode for achieving high-energy-dense batteries.

V-Doped CoSe2 Nanowire Catalysts in a 3D-Structured Electrode for Durable Li-S Pouch Cells

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have high theoretical energy density and are regarded as a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage systems. However, their practical applications are hindered by the slow kinetics of sulfur conversion and polysulfide shuttling. In particular, large-scale pouch cells show much poor cyclability. Here, we develop a high-efficiency catalyst of V-doped CoSe2 by studying the binary CoSe2-VSe2 system and confirming its effectiveness in accelerating polysulfide conversion. The coin cell tests reveal an initial capacity of 1414 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and 1049 mAh g-1 at 1 C and demonstrate 1000 times cyclability with a decaying rate of 0.05% per cycle. Furthermore, the assembly and construction of pouch cells were optimized with monolithic three-dimensional (3D) electrodes and a multistacking strategy. Specifically, a 3D metallic scaffold (3MS) was developed to host V-doped CoSe2 nanowires and sulfur. In addition, Janus microspheres of C@TiO2 were synthesized to capture polar polysulfides with their polar part of TiO2 and adsorb nonpolar sulfur with their nonpolar part of carbon. By integrating with 3MS, C@TiO2 microspheres can block all ion channels of 3MS and only allow Li ions in and out. These integral designs and monolithic structures enable multistacking pouch cells with high cyclability. A high-loading pouch cell was demonstrated with a total capacity of 700 mAh. The cell can be cycled for 70 times with a capacity retention of 65.7%. In brief, this work provides an integral strategy of catalyst design and overall 3D assembly for practical Li-S batteries in a large pouch cell format.

Bimetallic iron complex constructed clusters and single atoms neighboring structure to enhance oxygen reduction reaction performance

Electrocatalysts are useful in lowering the energy barrier in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this study, a catalyst with neighboring Fe single-atom and cluster is created by adsorbing a bimetallic Fe complex onto N-doped carbon and then pyrolyzing it. The resulting catalyst has good performance and a half-wave potential of 0.89 V. When used in Zn-air batteries, the voltage drops by only 8.13 % after 145 h of cycling. Theoretical studies show that electrons transfer from neighboring clusters to single atoms and the catalyst has a lower d-band center. These reduce intermediate desorption energy, hence improving ORR performance. This work demonstrates the capacity to adjust the catalytic properties through the interaction of diverse metal structures, which helps to design more efficient catalysts.

Enhancing activity and stability of FeNC catalysts through co incorporation for oxygen reduction reaction

FeNC single atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted great interest due to their highly active FeN4 sites. However, the pyrolysis treatment often leads to inevitable metal migration and aggregation, which reduces the catalytic activity. Moreover, due to the Fenton reaction caused by FeNC in alkaline and acidic solutions, the presence of Fe and peroxide in electrodes may generate free radicals, resulting in serious degradation of the organic ionomer and the membrane. Herein, we report an original strategy of introducing Co single atoms into FeNC catalysts, forming atomically dispersed bimetallic active sites (FeCoNC) and improving the activity and stability of the catalyst. Benefiting from this strategy, FeCoNC catalyst exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in alkaline media (E1/2 = 0.88 V) and in acidic media (E1/2 = 0.77 V). As the cathode of Zn-air battery (ZAB), FeCoNC shows an excellent peak power density of 142.8 mW cm-2 and a specific capacity of 806.6 mAh/gZn. This work provides a novel avenue to optimize and enhance the ORR performance of atomic dispersed FeNC catalysts.

A feasible strategy for designing cytochrome P450-mimic sandwich-like single-atom nanozymes toward electrochemical CO2 conversion

Carbon dioxide electroreduction (CO2ER) presents a promising strategy for environmentally friendly CO2 utilization due to its low energy consumption. Single-atom nanozymes (SANs), amalgamating the benefits of single-atom catalysts and nanozymes, have become a hot topic in catalysis. Inspired by the intricate structure of cytochrome P450, we designed 81 sandwich-like SANs using Group-VIII transition metals (TMN4-S-TM'N4) and evaluated their performance in CO2ER using density functional theory (DFT). Our investigation revealed that most SANs display superior catalytic activity and improved specific product selectivity in comparison to the Cu (211) surface. Notably, IrN4-S-TMN4 (TM = Co, Rh, Pd) exhibited selective CO2 reduction to CO with remarkable limiting potentials (UL) of -0.11, -0.07, and -0.09 V, respectively, demonstrating potential as artificial CO dehydrogenases. Furthermore, RuN4-S-RuN4 exhibited formate dehydrogenase-like activity, resulting in selective production of HCOOH at a UL of -0.10 V. Machine learning analysis elucidated that the exceptional activity and selectivity of these SANs stemmed from precise modulation of electron density on sulfur atoms, achieved by varying transition metals in the subsurface. Our research not only identifies exceptional SANs for CO2ER but also provides insights into innovative methods for regulating non-bonding interactions and achieving sustainable CO2 conversion.

Superstructure-Assisted Single-Atom Catalysis on Tungsten Carbides for Bifunctional Oxygen Reactions

Single-atom catalysis (SAC) attracts wide interest for zinc-air batteries that require high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen reactions. However, catalyst design is still highly challenging because of the insufficient driving force for promoting multiple-electron transfer kinetics. Herein, we report a superstructure-assisted SAC on tungsten carbides for oxygen evolution and reduction reactions. In addition to the usual single atomic sites, strikingly, we reveal the presence of highly ordered Co superstructures in the interfacial region with tungsten carbides that induce internal strain and promote bifunctional catalysis. Theoretical calculations show that the combined effects from superstructures and single atoms strongly reduce the adsorption energy of intermediates and overpotential of both oxygen reactions. The catalyst therefore presented impressive bifunctional activity with an ultralow potential gap of 0.623 V and delivered a high power density of 188.5 mW cm-2 for assembled zinc-air batteries. This work opens up new opportunities for atomic catalysis.

Surface Engineered Single-atom Systems for Energy Conversion

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are demonstrated to show exceptional reactivity and selectivity in catalytic reactions by effectively utilizing metal species, making them a favorable choice among the different active materials for energy conversion. However, SACs are still in the early stages of energy conversion, and problems like agglomeration and low energy conversion efficiency are hampering their practical applications. Substantial research focus on support modifications, which are vital for SAC reactivity and stability due to the intimate relationship between metal atoms and support. In this review, a category of supports and a variety of surface engineering strategies employed in SA systems are summarized, including surface site engineering (heteroatom doping, vacancy introducing, surface groups grafting, and coordination tunning) and surface structure engineering (size/morphology control, cocatalyst deposition, facet engineering, and crystallinity control). Also, the merits of support surface engineering in single-atom systems are systematically introduced. Highlights are the comprehensive summary and discussions on the utilization of surface-engineered SACs in diversified energy conversion applications including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, thermocatalysis, and energy conversion devices. At the end of this review, the potential and obstacles of using surface-engineered SACs in the field of energy conversion are discussed. This review aims to guide the rational design and manipulation of SACs for target-specific applications by capitalizing on the characteristic benefits of support surface engineering.

Steering lithium and potassium storage mechanism in covalent organic frameworks by incorporating transition metal single atoms

Organic electrodes mainly consisting of C, O, H, and N are promising candidates for advanced batteries. However, the sluggish ionic and electronic conductivity limit the full play of their high theoretical capacities. Here, we integrate the idea of metal-support interaction in single-atom catalysts with π-d hybridization into the design of organic electrode materials for the applications of lithium (LIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). Several types of transition metal single atoms (e.g., Co, Ni, Fe) with π-d hybridization are incorporated into the semiconducting covalent organic framework (COF) composite. Single atoms favorably modify the energy band structure and improve the electronic conductivity of COF. More importantly, the electronic interaction between single atoms and COF adjusts the binding affinity and modifies ion traffic between Li/K ions and the active organic units of COFs as evidenced by extensive in situ and ex situ characterizations and theoretical calculations. The corresponding LIB achieves a high reversible capacity of 1,023.0 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 100 mA g-1 and 501.1 mA h g-1 after 500 cycles at 1,000 mA g-1. The corresponding PIB delivers a high reversible capacity of 449.0 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1 after 150 cycles and stably cycled over 500 cycles at 1,000 mA g-1. This work provides a promising route to engineering organic electrodes.

State-of-the-Art Two-Dimensional Metal Phosphides for High Performance Lithium-ion Batteries: Progress and Prospects

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high energy density, long cycle life and safety have earned recognition as outstanding energy storage devices, and have been used in extensive applications, such as portable electronics and new energy vehicles. However, traditional graphite anodes deliver low specific capacity and inferior rate performance, which is difficult to satisfy ever-increasing demands in LIBs. Very recently, two-dimensional metal phosphides (2D MPs) emerge as the cutting-edge materials in LIBs due to their overwhelming advantages including high theoretical capacity, excellent conductivity and short lithium diffusion pathway. This review summarizes the up-to-date advances of 2D MPs from typical structures, main synthesis methods and LIBs applications. The corresponding lithium storage mechanism, and relationship between 2D structure and lithium storage performance is deeply discussed to provide new enlightening insights in application of 2D materials for LIBs. Several potential challenges and inspiring outlooks are highlighted to provide guidance for future research and applications of 2D MPs.

Effectively coupling of SnSe2nanosheet with N, Se co-doped carbon nanofibers as self-standing anode for lithium-ion batteries

Tin selenides possess layered structure and high theoretical capacity, which is considered as desirable anode material for lithium-ion batteries. However, its further development is limited by the low intrinsic electrical conductivity and sluggish reaction kinetics. Herein, a well-designed structure of SnSe2nanosheet attached on N, Se co-doped carbon nanofibers (SnSe2@CNFs) is fabricated as self-standing anodes for lithium-ion batteries. The integration of structural engineering and heteroatom doping enables accelerated electrons transfer and rapid ion diffusion for boosting Li+storage performance. Impressively, the flexible SnSe2@CNFs anodes exhibit inspiring capacity of 837.7 mAh g-1after 800 cycles at 1.2 C with coulombic efficiency almost 100% and superior rate performance 419.5 mAh g-1at 2.4 C. The kinetics analysis demonstrates the pseudocapacitive characteristic of SnSe2@CNFs promotes the storage property. This work sheds light on the hierarchical electrode construction towards high-performance energy storage applications.

Dual-Atom Co/Ni Electrocatalyst Anchored at the Surface-Modified Ti3C2Tx MXene Enables Efficient Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions

Dual-atom catalytic sites on conductive substrates offer a promising opportunity for accelerating the kinetics of multistep hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER, respectively). Using MXenes as substrates is a promising strategy for depositing those dual-atom electrocatalysts, if the efficient surface anchoring strategy ensuring metal-substrate interactions and sufficient mass loading is established. We introduce a surface-modification strategy of MXene substrates by preadsorbing L-tryptophan molecules, which enabled attachment of dual-atom Co/Ni electrocatalyst at the surface of Ti3C2Tx by forming N-Co/Ni-O bonds, with mass loading reaching as high as 5.6 wt %. The electron delocalization resulting from terminated O atoms on MXene substrates, N atoms in L-tryptophan anchoring moieties, and catalytic metal atoms Co and Ni provides an optimal adsorption strength of intermediates and boosts the HER and OER kinetics, thereby notably promoting the intrinsic activity of the electrocatalyst. CoNi-Ti3C2Tx electrocatalyst displayed HER and OER overpotentials of 31 and 241 mV at 10 mA cm-2, respectively. Importantly, the CoNi-Ti3C2Tx electrocatalyst also exhibited high operational stability for both OER and HER over 100 h at an industrially relevant current density of 500 mA cm-2. Our study provided guidance for constructing dual-atom active metal sites on MXene substrates to synergistically enhance the electrochemical efficiency and stability of the energy conversion and storage systems.

Encapsulation of sulfur in MoS2-modified metal-organic framework-derived N, O-codoped carbon host for sodium-sulfur batteries

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries (RT Na-S) are promising energy storage systems with high energy densities and low costs. Nevertheless, drawbacks, including the limited cycle life and sluggish redox kinetics of sodium polysulfides, hinder their implementation. Herein, a heterostructure of MoS2 nanosheets coated on a metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived N, O-codoped flower-like carbon matrix (NOC) was designed as a sulfur host for advanced RT Na-S batteries. The NOC@MoS2 hierarchical host provided a sufficient space to guarantee a high sulfur loading and confinement for the volume expansion of sulfur during the charge/discharge process. According to first-principle calculations, the NOC@MoS2 composite exhibited metallic conductivity because electronic states crossed the Fermi level, which indicates that the introduction of NOC significantly improved the electronic conductivity of MoS2. Furthermore, electron transfer from MoS2 to the O-doped carbon sites was observed owing to the strong electronegativity of O, which can effectively increase the Lewis acidity of MoS2 and weaken the sodium-sulfur bonds in sodium polysulfides after adsorption on the cathode, leading to reductions in the Na2S dissociation energy barrier and Gibbs free energy for the rate-limiting step of the sulfur reduction process. Therefore, with the synthetic effects of MoS2 and N, O-codoped carbon, the obtained cathode exhibited a superior electrochemical performance.

CoFe Alloys Dispersed on Se, N Co-Doped Graphitic Carbon as Efficient Bifunctional Catalysts for Zn-Air Batteries

The development of a stable and efficient non-noble metal catalyst with both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is paramount to achieving the widespread application of Zn-air batteries (ZABs) but remains a great challenge. Herein, a novel Co3 Fe7 alloy nanoparticle dispersed on Se, N co-doped graphitic carbon (denoted as CoFe/Se@CN) was prepared through a facile hydrothermal and pyrolysis process. The synthesized CoFe/Se@CN exhibits outstanding ORR and OER properties with an ultralow potential gap of 0.625 V, which is mainly attributed to the abundant porous structure, the rich structural defects formed by doping Se atoms, and the strong synergistic effects between the CoFe alloys and graphitic carbon nanosheet. Furthermore, the ZAB fabricated by CoFe/Se@CN shows a high peak power density of 160 mW cm-2 and a large specific capacity of 802 mA h g-1 with favorable cycling stability, outperforming that of Pt/C+RuO2 . Our study offers a plausible strategy to explore bifunctional carbon-based materials with efficient electrocatalytic properties for rechargeable ZABs.

Recent Progress in Hot Spot Regulated Strategies for Catalysts Applied in Li-CO2 Batteries

As a high energy density power system, lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO2 ) batteries play an important role in addressing the fossil fuel crisis issues and alleviating the greenhouse effect. However, the sluggish transformation kinetic of CO2 and the difficult decomposition of discharge products impede the achievement of large capacity, small overpotential, and long life span of the batteries, which require exploring efficient catalysts to resolve these problems. In this review, the main focus is on the hot spot regulation strategies of the catalysts, which include the modulation of the active sites, the designing of microstructure, and the construction of composition. The recent progress of promising catalysis with hot spot regulated strategies is systematically addressed. Critical challenges are also presented and perspectives to provide useful guidance for the rational design of highly efficient catalysts for practical advanced Li-CO2 batteries are proposed.

Improving Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution through Local Field Distortion in Mg/Fe Dual-site Catalysts

Transition metal single atom electrocatalysts (SACs) with metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) configuration show great potential in oxygen evolution reaction (OER), whereby the spin-dependent electrons must be allowed to transfer along reactants (OH- /H2 O, singlet spin state) and products (O2 , triplet spin state). Therefore, it is imperative to modulate the spin configuration in M-N-C to enhance the spin-sensitive OER energetics, which however remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a local field distortion induced intermediate to low spin transition by introducing a main-group element (Mg) into the Fe-N-C architecture, and decode the underlying origin of the enhanced OER activity. We unveil that, the large ionic radii mismatch between Mg2+ and Fe2+ can cause a FeN4 in-plane square local field deformation, which triggers a favorable spin transition of Fe2+ from intermediate (dxy 2 dxz 2 dyz 1 dz2 1 , 2.96 μB ) to low spin (dxy 2 dxz 2 dyz 2 , 0.95 μB ), and consequently regulate the thermodyna-mics of the elementary step with desired Gibbs free energies. The as-obtained Mg/Fe dual-site catalyst demonstrates a superior OER activity with an overpotential of 224 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and an electrolysis voltage of only 1.542 V at 10 mA cm-2 in the overall water splitting, which outperforms those of the state-of-the-art transition metal SACs.

Graphdiyne and Nitrogen-Doped Graphdiyne Nanotubes as Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Electrocatalysts with high efficiency and low cost are always urgently needed for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). As a new carbon allotrope, graphdiyne (GDY) has received much attention due to its unique chemical structure containing sp- and sp2-hybridized carbons, and intrinsic electrochemical activity ascribed to its inherent conductivity. Herein, we prepared two graphdiyne materials named GDY nanotube and nitrogen-doped GDY (NGDY) nanotube via cross-coupling reactions on the surface of Cu nanowires. As metal-free catalysts, their electrocatalytic activities for ORR were demonstrated. The results showed that the NGDY nanotube presents more excellent electrochemical performance than that of the GDY nanotube, including more positive potential and faster kinetics and charge transfer process. The improvement can be ascribed to the greater number of structural electrocatalytic active sites from nitrogen atoms as well as the hollow nanotube morphology, which is beneficial to the adsorption of oxygen and acceleration of the catalytic reaction. This work helps develop high-quality graphdiyne-based electrocatalysts with well-defined chemical structures and morphologies for various electrochemical reactions.

Catalytic Properties of Biochar as Support Material Potential for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell: A Review

With the evolution and emergence of compounding environmental problems and issues, renewable energy promises to be a sustainable future technology. One technology considered is the fuel cell, which thrives on the primary function of electrocatalytic activities. Thus this review article envisages and presents a comprehensive summary of the applications of activated carbonaceous material as supports for electrocatalysts in fuel cells. The different techniques utilized to produce these carbon materials are discussed in detail. The overview architecture and the principle of the operation of fuel cells are also addressed. Additionally, electrocatalysts and the importance of support materials, their characteristics, and the role they play in the performance of the electrocatalyst will be reviewed. Unfortunately, the carbon-support-based electrocatalyst suffers long-term instability due to corrosion. Previously, carbon black has been used as a carbon support in various fuel cells. In recent years, there has been progress in the incorporation of nanostructured carbon supports in electrocatalysts in various fuel cells; however, there is still a great deal of distance to cover for nanostructured carbon-supported electrocatalysts in fuel cells to realize full commercialization and large-scale industrial purposes due to shortcomings in electrocatalysts, which are low-cost and highly efficient. This review therefore discusses the progress of incorporation of biochar extracted from sugar cane bagasse as carbon support in electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells with the intention to provide insight into the quest of producing highly efficient and low cost fuel cells.

Graphene/C2N lateral heterostructures as promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures have been proposed as potential anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their large surface areas and excellent electronic properties. In this study, we employ first-principles calculations to investigate the structural stability, electronic properties, and ion diffusion behaviors of 2D graphene/C2N lateral heterostructures. Three species of (5, 26), (11, 26), and (17, 26) heterostructures are chosen to explore the effects of graphene components on electronic properties. The results show that graphene/C2N lateral heterostructures exhibit good dynamic stability due to a small lattice mismatch and strong chemical interaction at the heterojunction interface. By introducing zero-gap graphene, these heterostructures acquire good electronic conductivity with small direct band gaps. The component ratio of graphene can significantly tune the band gap, showing a monotonic decrease as the ratio increases. Moreover, the introduction of C2N components can greatly improve the lithium capacities of heterostructures. Small diffusion energy barriers (0.257-0.273 eV) and a low average operating voltage of 0.758 V are observed in graphene/C2N heterostructures. The effects of graphene components and valence states on Li migration are discussed. Our results demonstrate that the graphene/C2N lateral heterostructure can effectively combine the advantages of graphene and the C2N monolayer, showing great promise as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Insight on Atomically Dispersed Cu Catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECO2R) with renewable electricity is an advanced carbon conversion technology. At present, copper is the only metal to selectively convert CO2 into multicarbon (C2+) products. Among them, atomically dispersed (AD) Cu catalysts have received great attention due to the relatively single chemical environment, which are able to minimize the negative impact of morphology, valence state, and crystallographic properties, etc. on product selectivity. Furthermore, the completely exposed atomic Cu sites not only provide space and bonding electrons for the adsorption of reactants in favor of better catalytic activity but also provide an ideal platform for studying its reaction mechanism. This review summarizes the recent progress of AD Cu catalysts as a chemically tunable platform for ECO2R, including the atomic Cu sites dynamic evolution, the catalytic performance, and mechanism. Furthermore, the prospects and challenges of AD Cu catalysts for ECO2R are carefully discussed. We sincerely hope that this review can contribute to the rational design of AD Cu catalysts with enhanced performance for ECO2R.

Single-atom site catalysis in Li-S batteries

With their high theoretical energy density, Li-S batteries are regarded as the ideal battery system for next generation electrochemical energy storage. In the last 15 years, Li-S batteries have made outstanding academic progress. Recently, research studies have placed more emphasis on their practical application aspects, which puts forward strict requirements for the loading of S cathodes and the amount of electrolytes. To meet the above requirements, electrode catalysis design is of crucial significance. Among all the catalysts, single-atom site catalysts (SASCs) are considered to be ideal catalyst materials for the commercialization of Li-S batteries due to their high activity and highest utilization of catalytic sites. This perspective introduces the kinetic mechanism of S cathodes, the basic concept and synthesis strategy of SASCs, and then systematically summarizes the research progress of SASCs for S cathodes and, the related functional interlayers/separators in recent years. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of SASCs in Li-S batteries are summarized and prospected.

Multimetallic Single-Atom Catalysts for Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysis

Multimetallic alloys have demonstrated promising performance for the application of metal-air batteries, while it remains a challenge to design multimetallic single-atom catalysts (MM-SACs). Herein, metal-C3N4 and nitrogen-doped carbon are employed as cornerstones to synthesize MM-SACs by a general two-step method, and the inherent features of atomic dispersion and the strong electronic reciprocity between the multimetallic sites have been verified. The trimetallic FeCoZn-SACs and quatermetallic FeCoCuZn-SACs are both found to deliver superior oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction activity, respectively, as well as outstanding bifunctional durability. Density functional theory calculations elucidate the crucial contribution of Co sites of FeCoCuZn-SACs to the efficient catalysis of both the ORR and the OER. More importantly, Zn-air batteries with FeCoCuZn-SACs as cathodic catalysts exhibit a high power density (252 mW cm-2), high specific capacity (817 mAh gZn-1), and considerable stability (over 225 h) for charging-discharging processes. This work provides a visual perspective for the advantages of MM-SACs toward oxygen electrocatalysis.

Rational design of MXene-based single atom catalysts for Na-Se batteries from sabatier principle

Na-Se batteries have attracted great attention because of their high-energy density and low cost, though the shuttle effect of polyselenides and sluggish reaction dynamics still limit their practical applications. Herein, MXenes were decorated with single zinc atom as selenium hosts, and the effect of interfacial electrochemical reaction was studied via first-principles simulation. The embedding of single zinc atom into MXenes was found to enhance the anchoring ability to inhibit the shuttle effect. However, Zn-MXenes as single atom catalysts had different effects on interfacial electrochemical reactions, which can be attributed to the increased interaction strengths between Zn-MXenes and polyselenides. For Ti-based MXenes, the enhanced interaction was found to be beneficial for the electrochemical reaction, whereas the overly strong anchoring strength of Zn-Cr2CO2 would inhibit charging-discharging kinetics. Therefore, the matching of MXenes and metal atoms should be considered to adjust the anchoring ability based on the Sabatier principle. This work provides new insights into the design of SACs and high-performance Na-Se batteries.

Tuning the Coordination Environment of Carbon-Based Single-Atom Catalysts via Doping with Multiple Heteroatoms and Their Applications in Electrocatalysis

Carbon-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) are considered to be a perfect platform for studying the structure-activity relationship of different reactions due to the adjustability of their coordination environment. Multi-heteroatom doping has been demonstrated as an effective strategy for tuning the coordination environment of carbon-based SACs and enhancing catalytic performance in electrochemical reactions. Herein, recently developed strategies for multi-heteroatom doping, focusing on the regulation of single-atom active sites by heteroatoms in different coordination shells, are summarized. In addition, the correlation between the coordination environment and the catalytic activity of carbon-based SACs are investigated through representative experiments and theoretical calculations for various electrochemical reactions. Finally, concerning certain shortcomings of the current strategies of doping multi-heteroatoms, some suggestions are put forward to promote the development of carbon-based SACs in the field of electrocatalysis.

Engineering Strategy for Enhancing the Co Loading of Co-N4-C Single-Atomic Catalysts Based on the ZIF-67@Yeast Construction

The Co-N4-C single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted great research interest in the energy storage and conversion fields owing to 100% atom utilization. However, enhancing the Co loading for higher electrocatalytic performance is still challenging. In this context, we propose an engineering strategy to fabricate the high Co atomic loading Co-N4-C SACs based on the zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67)@yeast construction. The rich amino groups provide the possibility for Co2+ ion anchorage and ZIF-67@yeast construction via the biomineralization of yeast cells. The functional design induces the formation of Co-N4-C sites and regulates the porosity for exposure of such Co-N4-C sites. As a result, the Co-N4-C sites were anchored on spherical micrometer flower carbonaceous materials through our novel strategy. The as-obtained optimal sample exhibited a Co atomic loading of 12.18 wt % and a specific surface area of 403.26 m2 g-1. High Co atomic loading and large specific surface area delivered excellent electrocatalytic kinetics as well as a high discharge voltage of 1.08 V at 10 mA cm-2 for more than 100 h in Zn-air batteries. This work represents a promising strategy for fabricating high-loading SACs with high activity and good durability.

Atomically Dispersed Pd-N1C3 Sites on a Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanosphere for Semi-hydrogenation of Acetylene

Rationally designing efficient catalysts for semi-hydrogenation of acetylene is significant but challenging. Herein, Pd isolated single-atom sites (ISAS) on a covalent-organic-framework (COF)-derived nanosphere (Pd-ISAS/CN) are synthesized by a COF-absorption-pyrolysis strategy. This synthetic strategy is also applicable for Pt and Ru ISAS catalysts, demonstrating that it is a general method to synthesize noble-metal ISAS on COF-derived carbon materials. Pd-ISAS/CN exhibits outstanding reactivity and high selectivity for semi-hydrogenation of acetylene, with 92% conversion of acetylene, 80% selectivity toward ethylene at 100 °C, and corresponding activity is as high as 712 molacetylene molmetal-1 h-1. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurement and density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveal the Pd-N1C3 sites from Pd-ISAS/CN efficiently boost the reactivity for semi-hydrogenation of acetylene. This work will bring inspiration to rationally design noble-metal-based ISAS catalysts derived from COF materials and boost catalytic performance by optimizing the coordination environment of catalytic sites.

Designing a Hierarchical Porous Carbon with Optimized Nitrogen Doping for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Nitrogen-doped carbon is considered one of the most promising oxygen reduction catalysts due to its low cost and high activity, however, it still falls short of Pt/C. In this study, we report a strategy for the preparation of highly reactive N-doped hierarchical porous carbon by primary pyrolysis using zinc acetate as a stand-alone zinc source and amino-rich reactants as carbon and nitrogen sources to introduce Zn-Nx structures into mesoporous structures generated by the hard template method using the strong coordination of zinc and amino groups. Benefited from the simultaneous optimization of the hierarchical porous structure and nitrogen-doping, the half-wave potential of Zn(OAc)2 -DCD/HPC is as high as 0.909 V vs. RHE, much better than that of commercial Pt/C catalysts (0.872 V vs. RHE). In addition, zinc-air batteries assembled with Zn(OAc)2 -DCD/HPC (Pmax =198 mW cm-2 ) as the cathode exhibit higher peak power density compared to Pt/C (Pmax =168 mW cm-2 ). This strategy might open up new opportunities for designing and developing highly active metal-free catalysts.

Terminal Group-Oriented Self-Assembly to Controllably Synthesize a Layer-by-Layer SnSe2 and MXene Heterostructure for Ultrastable Lithium Storage

Heterostructured materials integrate the advantages of adjustable electronic structure, fast electron/ions transfer kinetics, and robust architectures, which have attracted considerable interest in the fields of rechargeable batteries, photo/electrocatalysis, and supercapacitors. However, the construction of heterostructures still faces some severe problems, such as inferior random packing of components and serious agglomeration. Herein, a terminal group-oriented self-assembly strategy to controllably synthesize a homogeneous layer-by-layer SnSe₂ and MXene heterostructure (LBL-SnSe₂ @MXene) is designed. Benefitting from the abundant polar terminal groups on the MXene surface, Sn²⁺ is induced into the interlayer of MXene with large interlayer spacing, which is selenized in situ to obtain LBL-SnSe₂ @MXene. In the heterostructure, SnSe₂ layers and MXene layers are uniformly intercalated in each other, superior to other heterostructures formed by random stacking. As an anode for lithium-ion batteries, the LBL-SnSe₂ @MXene is revealed to possess strong lithium adsorption ability, the small activation energy for lithium diffusion, and excellent structure stability, thus achieving outstanding electrochemical performance, especially with high specific capacities (1311 and 839 mAh g^-1 for initial discharge and charge respectively) and ultralong cycling stability (410 mAh g^-1 at 5C even after 16 000 cycles). This work conveys an inspiration for the controllable design and construction of homogeneous layered heterostructures.

Availability of Biomass and Potential of Nanotechnologies for Bioenergy Production in Jordan

Jordan’s energy situation is in a critical state of dependency, with the country relying heavily on imports to satisfy its ever-increasing energy requirements. Renewable energy is a more competitive and consistent source of energy that can supply a large proportion of a country’s energy demand. It is environmentally friendly and minimizes atmospheric pollutant emissions. Thus, bioenergy has the potential to be a crucial alternative energy source in Jordan. Biomass is the principal source of bioenergy; it accounts for approximately 13% of the primary energy demand and is anticipated to supply half of the total primary energy demand by 2050. Nanotechnology has emerged as an important scientific research area with numerous applications, including biofuels. This review summarizes the application of nanoparticles to improve the properties and processes of biofuels. It presents the availability and viability of nanotechnology-supported bioenergy production in Jordan. Jordan generates up to 5.8 million tons of biomass each year and has access to abundant nonedible plant resources (such as Jojoba, Handal, and Jatropha). The theoretical energy potential of waste and residue available in Jordan was also assessed; it was discovered that the 1.28 million tons of dry crop residues (vegetables, fruits, and farming crops) could generate 6.8 PJ of energy per year and that biogas could be generated at a rate of 817 MCM/year

Single-cell-array biomass-templated architecture of hierarchical porous electrocatalysts for Zn-air and Zn-H2O2 batteries

Hierarchically macro-meso-microporous ZIF-67/nori-derived electrocatalysts were synthesized by using single-cell-array nori and ZIF-67 as macroporous and microporous templates, and KOH as a meso/micropore-forming reagent. The ZIF-67/nori-800-based Zn-H₂O₂ battery achieved a high maximum power density, of 476 mW cm^-2, and a specific energy density of 964 W h kg^-1 at 50 mA cm^-2.

Enhanced lithium polysulfide adsorption on an iron-oxide-modified separator for Li-S batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are candidates for next-generation energy storage systems because of their low cost, high theoretical specific capacity and safety. However, the serious lithium polysulfide (LiPS) shuttle effect leads to a loss of reactive active substances and reduction of coulombic efficiency. In the current work, iron oxide (IO-700)-prepared by calcining a mixture of carbon spheres and ferric nitrate under an air atmosphere at 700 °C-was designed as a separator modifier to effectively adsorb LiPSs and accelerate the kinetics of the transformation of the intermediates, thereby inhibiting the shuttle effect. Li-S batteries including IO-700 showed long-term stability for 1000 cycles at 1C, with a capacity decay rate per cycle of only 0.0487%. A theoretical calculation indicated that, due to strongly polar active sites, Fe₂O₃ adsorbed LiPSs effectively to suppress the shuttle effect. This work has highlighted the importance for Li-S batteries of strongly polar active sites for anchoring LiPSs to inhibit the shuttle effect.

Interlayer Charge Transfer Regulates Single-Atom Catalytic Activity on Electride/Graphene 2D Heterojunctions

Single-atom catalysts with structure and activity tunability have attracted significant attention for energy and environmental applications. Herein we present a first-principles study of single-atom catalysis on two-dimensional graphene and electride heterostructures. The anion electron gas in the electride layer enables a colossal electron transfer to the graphene layer, with the degree of transfer being controllable by the selection of electride. The charge transfer tunes the d-orbital electron occupancy of a single metal atom, enhancing the catalytic activity of hydrogen evolution reactions and oxygen reduction reactions. The strong correlation between the adsorption energy E_ads and the charge variation Δq suggests that interfacial charge transfer is a critical catalytic descriptor for the heterostructure-based catalysts. The polynomial regression model proves the importance of charge transfer and accurately predicts the adsorption energy of ions and molecules. This study provides a strategy to obtain high-efficiency single-atom catalysts using two-dimensional heterostructures.

Role of the Support Effects in Single-Atom Catalysts

In recent years, single-atom catalysts (SACs) have received a significant amount of attention due to their high atomic utilization, low cost, high reaction activity, and selectivity for multiple catalytic reactions. Unfortunately, the high surface free energy of single atoms leads them easily migrated and aggregated. Therefore, support materials play an important role in the preparation and catalytic performance of SACs. Aiming at understanding the relationship between support materials and the catalytic performance of SACs, the support effects in SACs are introduced and reviewed herein. Moreover, special emphasis is placed on exploring the influence of the type and structure of supports on SAC catalytic performance through advanced characterization and theoretical research. Future research directions for support materials are also proposed, providing some insight into the design of SACs with high efficiency and high loading.

Heteroatom Coordination Regulates Iron Single-Atom-Catalyst with Superior Oxygen Reduction Reaction Performance for Aqueous Zn-Air Battery

Platinum group metal (PGM)-free M-N-C catalysts have exhibited dramatic electrocatalytic performance and are considered the most promising candidate of the Pt catalysts in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the electrocatalytic performance of the M-N-C catalysts is still limited by their inferior intrinsic activity and finite active site density. Regulating the coordination environment and increasing the pore structure of the catalyst is an effective strategy to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of the M-N-C catalysts. In this work, the coordination environment and pore structure exquisitely regulated Fe-N-C catalyst exhibit excellent ORR activity and durability. With the enhanced intrinsic activity and increased active site density, the optimized Fe-N/S-C catalyst shows impressive ORR activity (E_1/2  = 0.904 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) and superior long-term durability in an alkaline medium. As the advanced physical characterization and theoretical chemistry methods illustrate, the S-modified Fe-N_x (Fe-N₃ /S-C) moiety is confirmed as the improved active center for ORR, and the increased active site density further improved ORR efficiency. Based on the Fe-N/S-C cathode, a Zn-air battery is fabricated and shows superior power density (315.4 mW cm^-2 ) and long-term discharge stability at 20 mA cm^-2 . This work would open a new perspective to design atomically dispersed iron-metal site catalysts for advanced electro-catalysis.

Emerging 2D Copper-Based Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion: A Review and Perspective

2D materials have shown great potential as electrode materials that determine the performance of a range of electrochemical energy technologies. Among these, 2D copper-based materials, such as Cu-O, Cu-S, Cu-Se, Cu-N, and Cu-P, have attracted tremendous research interest, because of the combination of remarkable properties, such as low cost, excellent chemical stability, facile fabrication, and significant electrochemical properties. Herein, the recent advances in the emerging 2D copper-based materials are summarized. A brief summary of the crystal structures and synthetic methods is started, and innovative strategies for improving electrochemical performances of 2D copper-based materials are described in detail through defect engineering, heterostructure construction, and surface functionalization. Furthermore, their state-of-the-art applications in electrochemical energy storage including supercapacitors (SCs), alkali (Li, Na, and K)-ion batteries, multivalent metal (Mg and Al)-ion batteries, and hybrid Mg/Li-ion batteries are described. In addition, the electrocatalysis applications of 2D copper-based materials in metal-air batteries, water-splitting, and CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂ RR) are also discussed. This review also discusses the charge storage mechanisms of 2D copper-based materials by various advanced characterization techniques. The review with a perspective of the current challenges and research outlook of such 2D copper-based materials for high-performance energy storage and conversion applications is concluded.

A Systematic Search for the Adsorption Motif of All Stereoisomers of Propylene Glycol on a Palladium(111) Surface for Fuel Cell Applications

Small organic molecules have been shown to produce sufficient power densities allowing them to be environmentally friendly renewable fuel sources and an important part of fuel cell research. Affiliated experimental work found propylene glycol, as a source of renewable fuel, produces viable power densities when utilized with an alkaline-acid fuel cell and a Pd(111) catalyst. There is limited theoretical work on propylene glycol's energy reaction pathway. Thus, the first step in understanding how propylene glycol reacts with the Pd(111) slab is understanding its adsorption. In this paper, we present the investigation of adsorption potential energies (APE) of propylene glycol stereoisomers (S)-propane-1,2-diol (1,2PGS), (R)-propane-1,2-diol (1,2PGR), and propane-1,3-diol (1,3PG) on Pd(111). The isomers are systematically scanned through different configurations to analyze the preferred stable orientation and positional motifs. Density functional theory (DFT) is used to optimize the molecular geometries and surface relaxations. The most stable configuration of the 1,2PG stereoisomers resulted in an APE of -0.97 eV. The most stable configuration of the 1,3PG resulted in an APE of -1.19 eV. Both the 1,2PG(S/R) and 1,3PG isomers favor a motif in which at least one hydroxyl oxygen atom interacts with the surface of the Pd(111) catalyst. The 1,2PG carbon backbone prefers to have the center carbon positioned away from the slab, while the 1,3PG prefers to have the center carbon positioned closer to the slab. The most stable 1,3PG differs from other reported 1,3PG and 1,2PG relaxed configurations in that both of the hydroxyl oxygen atoms interact with the Pd(111) surface. These results show more favorable APEs than previously reported calculations. This paper will discuss in detail the differences between the hydroxyl group motifs and their role in affecting adsorption.

Designing a Built-In Electric Field for Efficient Energy Electrocatalysis

To utilize intermittent renewable energy as well as achieve the goals of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality, various electrocatalytic devices have been developed. However, the electrocatalytic reactions, e.g., hydrogen evolution reaction/oxygen evolution reaction in overall water splitting, polysulfide conversion in lithium-sulfur batteries, formation/decomposition of lithium peroxide in lithium-oxygen batteries, and nitrate reduction reaction to degrade sewage, suffer from sluggish kinetics caused by multielectron transfer processes. Owing to the merits of accelerated charge transport, optimized adsorption/desorption of intermediates, raised conductivity, regulation of the reaction microenvironment, as well as ease to combine with geometric characteristics, the built-in electric field (BIEF) is expected to overcome the above problems. Here, we give a Review about the very recent progress of BIEF for efficient energy electrocatalysis. First, the construction strategies and the characterization methods (qualitative and quantitative analysis) of BIEF are summarized. Then, the up-to-date overviews of BIEF engineering in electrocatalysis, with attention on the electron structure optimization and reaction microenvironment modulation, are analyzed and discussed in detail. In the end, the challenges and perspectives of BIEF engineering are proposed. This Review gives a deep understanding on the design of electrocatalysts with BIEF for next-generation energy storage and electrocatalytic devices.

Advanced Nanostructured Materials for Electrocatalysis in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered as among the most promising electrochemical energy storage devices due to their high theoretical energy density and low cost. However, the inherently complex electrochemical mechanism in Li-S batteries leads to problems such as slow internal reaction kinetics and a severe shuttle effect, which seriously affect the practical application of batteries. Therefore, accelerating the internal electrochemical reactions of Li-S batteries is the key to realize their large-scale applications. This article reviews significant efforts to address the above problems, mainly the catalysis of electrochemical reactions by specific nanostructured materials. Through the rational design of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts (including but not limited to strategies such as single atoms, heterostructures, metal compounds, and small-molecule solvents), the chemical reactivity of Li-S batteries has been effectively improved. Here, the application of nanomaterials in the field of electrocatalysis for Li-S batteries is introduced in detail, and the advancement of nanostructures in Li-S batteries is emphasized.