Universal strategies to multi-dimensional noble-metal-based catalysts for electrocatalysis

Abstract

• Classifications of universal synthetic methods of MNMCs are summarized. • The surface, facet, electronic structure, and phase engineering of MNMCs are reviewed. • The electrocatalytic applications of MNMCs are concluded. • Opportunities and challenges of MNMCs are outlined for further development. Multi-dimensional noble metal-based catalysts (including zero-dimensional (0D), one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) catalysts, MNMCs), have received great attention due to their unique physicochemical properties and enhanced catalytic properties. Recently, developing precise and universal strategies to synthesize MNMCs have achieved remarkable progress in electrocatalysis, yet lacking a comprehensive study on universal synthetic strategies to noble metal-based nanomaterials in different dimensions. In this review, we systematically summarized the latest research advances on universal strategies to MNMCs for electrocatalysis applications by structure optimizations. Generally, we concluded the classifications of various universal strategies on preparing MNMCs, involving universal hydro/solvothermal strategy, ligand-mediated method, template-assisted route, epitaxial growth, and CO-confinement strategy. Then we analyzed the structure optimizations on MNMCs for enhanced properties benefited from the use of universal strategies, including the increasement of active sites, construction of high-index facets, optimization of electronic interaction, and regulation of phase structure. The electrocatalysis application in direct alcohol fuel cells (anodic alcohol oxidation (AOR) and cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)), water electrolysis (hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER)) have also been explored by illustrating specific examples. We finally outlined the opportunities and challenges for the further developments of universal strategies to MNMCs.