Seawater oxidation reaction (SOR) offers a sustainable route for hydrogen production, but imposes stringent requirements on catalysts. Under operating conditions, catalysts must maintain high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity, excellent selectivity, and resistance to chloride ion corrosion. Herein, to address the bottlenecks in catalytic activity and durability of nickel-based catalysts for SOR, a dynamic hydroxyl healing lattice oxygen mechanism (DH-LOM) has been developed. By creating a polyhydroxy metal ion microenvironment in an alkaline seawater system, the local electronic environment of the catalysts can be regulated to enhance OER activity. This mechanism promotes oxygen vacancy mediated hydroxyl exchange, enabling rapid dynamic repair of active NiOOH species at the solid-liquid interface, while also facilitating interfacial hydroxyl capture to increase local reactant concentration and specifically shield chloride ions to inhibit side reactions. Furthermore, it can extend the lifetime of Ni-HHTP from the initial tens of hours to over 500 h. This strategy exhibits universality and can be extended to NiOOH-reconstructed catalysts and other polyhydroxy systems. Under the operating conditions (60°C, 1 A cm-2), THZ-Ni-HHTP||Pt/C achieved stable seawater electrolysis for 1100 h. The dynamic hydroxyl self-healing lattice oxygen-mediated mechanism provides a new view for the development of durable seawater oxidation catalyst microenvironment.

Photocatalytic conversion of H2O and O2 into H2O2 provides a promising sustainable ambient-condition route alternative to energy-intensive anthraquinone processes for on-site H2O2 production. Herein a series of K-doped cyano-rich g-C3N4 with porous structure (g-PC3N4K) have been successful synthesized by a molten salt assisted pyrolysis with subsequent secondary pyrolysis under the assistance of sublimated sulfur. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that the synergistic effects of K─N electron channels and the introduction of ─C≡N as well as porous structure is beneficial to the exposure of catalytically activity sites and the rapid separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, which contributes to the improved photocatalytic performance for H2O2 production. As expected, the optimal g-PC3N4K exhibits a 14.05-fold higher H2O2 yield than pristine g-C3N4 and high H2O2 yield of 1625 µM and high solar-to-chemical conversion (SCC) efficiency of 5.93% can be also achieved within one hour under sunlight illumination, indicating its excellent performance and potentially practical application for photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis.

Rational design of efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts composed of non-precious metals is crucial to enable large-scale applications in zinc-air batteries. Herein we report a facile method to construct dual-metal single-atomic ORR catalysts with nitrogen-coordinated Cu/Sn dual-metal sites embedded into nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (CuSn-NC) by direct pyrolysis in the presence of Cu and Sn salts. The resultant CuSn-NC catalysts exhibit significantly improved ORR performance with onset potentials of 1.00 V and 0.803 V and half-wave potentials of 0.91 V and 0.70 V in alkaline and acidic condition as well as superior zinc-air battery performance. Moreover, the asymmetric Cu/Sn bimetallic single-atomic sites linked by a direct bonding of Cu-Sn bimetallic atoms has been revealed by X-ray adsorption spectra and theoretical calculation results to facilitate the decreased energy barrier of the hydrogenation of *OH, which contribute to the enhanced ORR performance.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction to multicarbon (C2+) products offers a promising route to convert carbon emissions into value-added chemicals and fuels using renewable electricity. Among the various catalyst systems investigated, Cu-based materials remain the most effective due to their unique ability to promote C-C coupling and generate diverse C2+ products, including ethylene, ethanol, and acetate. However, achieving high selectivity, activity, and stability remains challenging due to the complex reaction network, competing hydrogen evolution, and the sensitivity of key intermediates to catalyst structure and local reaction environment. This review summarizes recent advances in Cu-based electrocatalysts for CO2-to-C2+ conversion, with a particular focus on four classical catalyst design strategies: heterostructure construction, atomic configuration regulation, alloy engineering, and surface molecular modification. By highlighting their distinct mechanistic roles in tuning intermediate adsorption, C-C coupling, and product pathways, this review provides a concise perspective on rational catalyst design for efficient multicarbon electrosynthesis.

The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) significantly impede the industrial applications of water electrolysis and rechargeable metal-air batteries. Exploring magnetic field-assisted strategies to enhance the OER electrocatalytic activity has attracted extensive attention from researchers. Herein, a specially designed magnetoelectrochemical system has been employed to systematically investigate the influence of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect on the OER activity of magnetic and nonmagnetic current collectors in magnetic fields. The results demonstrate that the Lorentz force can effectively accelerate the bubbles to detach quickly under a high current in both magnetic and nonmagnetic current collectors. The OER performance of nonmagnetic copper foam (CF) is linearly and positively correlated with the projected area. In comparison with the nonmagnetic CF, the magnetic nickel foam (NF) benefits from the Kelvin force in the MHD effect, which can further optimize the electric double layer, accelerate the catalytic reaction kinetics, and enhance the oxygen evolution reaction activity. Through systematically integrating the Lorentz equation and the Kelvin equation, we establish a positive correlation between the projected magnetic field area and the Lorentz force response, as well as the positive enhancement effect of the perturbation of the Kelvin force─primarily on electric double layer enhancement─thereby improving the OER kinetics. Our findings advance the fundamental understanding of the role of magnetic fields in electrocatalysis and pave the way for the development of more effective and sustainable energy conversion technologies.

This review highlights the structural diversity and entropy-driven design of high-entropy materials for oxygen reduction, revealing key structure–activity relationships and guiding future electrocatalyst development.

This review highlights recent advances in Ir-based electrocatalysts based on different design strategies. This review will guide future research in the development of high-performance Ir-based HOR electrocatalysts for AEMFCs.

The bottleneck for direct seawater splitting is the highly selective and durable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst, primarily due to side reactions caused by chloride ions (Cl-). Therefore, this study proposes a promising strategy by coupling hydrophilic units to the catalyst-electrolyte interface to reconstruct connected hydrogen-bond networks, thereby enhancing OER activity in seawater systems. Herein, this study finds that the hydrogen-bond interactions between hexametaphosphate (HMP) and H2O molecules not only direct the reconstruction short-hydrogen-bond network to the NiFe-LDH (NFL) surface but also serve as a channel to inhibit chloride ions and promote the dehydrogenation process. Through electrochemical performance tests, it exhibits excellent chlorine resistance and stability. Compared with NFL (with a chlorine resistance stability coefficient of 14.3), HMP-NFL has a chlorine resistance stability coefficient of only 7.49, which owned superior chlorine resistance properties. More importantly, it operates stably at 1.8 V vs RHE for over 1000 h under 1 M NaOH + seawater, far surpassing the performance of NFL without short-range hydrogen-bond construction, which deteriorates within 200 h of operation. The design of short-range hydrogen bond networks paves the way for the design of efficient seawater electrolysis.

The tradeoff between hydrogen adsorption binding energy (HBE) and hydroxyl adsorption binding energy (OHBE) critically impacts the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen oxidation reactions (HOR), which significantly impedes the development of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Herein, we introduce a novel synergistic catalysis system composed of single rare earth atoms (such as Tb, Ho, Gd, and Er) doped into graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) supported on Pt nanoparticles (GCN-RE-Pt) to balance the tradeoff between HBE and OHBE, thereby enhancing HOR kinetics. In this system, the single rare earth atoms could promote the adsorption of hydroxyl species (OHad), facilitating hydrogen oxidation and water generation, and induce a surface charge redistribution in GCN, which modulates the electronic structure of the Pt active centers and optimizes the binding energy of adsorbed hydrogen (Had). As a proof of concept, the optimal GCN-Tb-Pt electrocatalyst achieved a kinetic current density of 12.67 mA·cm−2 at an overpotential of 50 mV, which is markedly higher than that of GCN-Pt (6.49 mA·cm−2) and commercial Pt/C (7.28 mA·cm−2). This work opens new avenues for the rational design of highly efficient alkaline HOR catalysts through single rare earth atoms modulating synergistic catalysis.

Palladium (Pd)-based catalysts are considered compelling alternatives to platinum (Pt)-based counterparts in various electrocatalytic reactions. Recently, Pd metallene-based nanomaterials have emerged as innovative materials for electrocatalysis, demonstrating unique functional properties and exceptional catalytic activity. This review aims to discuss recent research progress on Pd metallene-based electrocatalysts for energy conversion applications, providing an overview of their design strategies and pivotal advantages. Seven pivotal construction strategies for Pd metallene-based electrocatalysts, including defect engineering, interface engineering, strain effect, phase engineering, alloying effect, and doping effect, are meticulously introduced and comprehensively discussed, highlighting their critical roles in modulating the electronic structure and coordination environment. Finally, the current challenges and perspectives on the future directions of Pd metallene-based electrocatalysts are provided. Pd metallenes have emerged as promising electrocatalysts for energy applications. This review summarizes the recent research progress on Pd metallene-based electrocatalysts for energy conversion applications, aiming to provide a deep insight into the challenges and future directions of Pd-based electrocatalyst systems. image

Constructing well-defined heterostructure interfaces in catalysts is an efficient strategy to break the so-called scaling relationships and to accelerate the reactions involving multiple intermediates. Here a cluster–cluster heterostructure catalyst composed of crystalline ruthenium cluster and amorphous chromium oxide cluster is designed to realize high-performance alkaline hydrogen electrocatalysis. The strongly coupled cluster–cluster heterostructure interface induces a unique interfacial interpenetration effect, which simultaneously optimizes the adsorption of intermediates on each cluster. The resulting catalyst exhibits impressive catalytic activities for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (exchange current density of 2.8 A mg −1 Ru ) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (mass activity of 23.0 A mg −1 Ru at the overpotential of 100 mV) in alkaline media. The hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cell delivers a mass activity of 22.4 A mg −1 Ru at 0.65 V and outstanding durability with no voltage loss over 105 h operation at 500 mA cm −2 . The present work demonstrates the superiority of cluster–cluster heterostructure interface towards the development of advanced catalysts.

Defect engineering has been considered as an efficient and facile tactics to optimize the bandgap structure and improve the oxygen adsorption ability of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). Herein porous g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancies and sodium dopant as well as cyano (& horbar;C equivalent to N) groups has been successfully constructed by direct pyrolysis of melamine in the presence of cyano-rich sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN). Moreover, the incorporation of NaSCN is interestingly found to induce the relative high content of & horbar;C equivalent to N groups compared to other inorganic sodium compounds (NaCl, NaOH, and Na2SO4), which has been experimentally demonstrated to be beneficial for extending the light absorption range and promoting the efficient separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs as well as improving the oxygen adsorption ability. Benefiting from the above features, the optimal photocatalyst exhibits high H2O2 yield of 438.2 mu m within 4 h and excellent cyclic stability. Porous g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancies and sodium dopant as well as cyano groups is constructed by direct pyrolysis of melamine in the presence of cyano-rich sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN). Moreover, the relative high content of -C equivalent to N groups after the incorporation of NaSCN has been experimentally demonstrated to be beneficial for extending the light absorption range and promoting the efficient separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs as well as improving the oxygen adsorption ability, which contributes to the enhaned photocatalytic performance toward the H2O2 production. image

Layered graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has sparked extensive interest in energy applications due to the unique physicochemical properties, tunable molecular structure, and high stability. Herein, we review the research progress of g-C3N4-based electrocatalysts for energy applications and summarize their design strategies from the perspectives of surface engineering and interfacial engineering, including heteroatom doping, defect engineering, and heterostructure engineering. Finally, we provide perspectives on the challenges and future directions of g-C3N4-based electrocatalysts. This review would inspire new ideas into the development of next-generation g-C3N4-based electrocatalysts with improved performance toward the sustainable and clean energy conversion systems.

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) driven by renewable electricity is a promising technique toward green hydrogen production, but the corrosive environment and high working potential pose severe challenges for developing advanced electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Although Ir-based materials possess relatively balanced activity and stability for the OER, their dissolution behavior cannot be neglected, in particular under high working potentials. In this work, iridium dioxide (IrO2) nanoparticles (NPs) were anchored on the surface of exfoliated h-boron nitride (BN) nanosheets (NSs) toward the OER reaction in acid media. Highly active Ir(V) species were stabilized by the epitaxial interface between IrO2 and h-BN, and therefore the IrO2/BN delivered stable performance at increased working potentials, while the activity of bare IrO2 NPs without h-BN support decreased rapidly. Also, the smaller lattice spacing of h-BN induced compressive strain for IrO2, resulting in improved activity. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of stabilizing highly active Ir(V) species for the OER in acid media by constructing robust interface and provide new possibilities toward designing advanced heterostructured electrocatalysts.

The slow hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) kinetics under alkaline conditions remain a critical challenge for the practical application of alkaline exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, Ru/RuO 2 in‐plane heterostructures are designed with abundant active Ru–RuO 2 interface domains as efficient electrocatalysts for the HOR in alkaline media. The experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that interfacial Ru and RuO 2 domains at Ru–RuO 2 interfaces are the optimal H and OH adsorption sites, respectively, endowing the well‐defined Ru(100)/RuO 2 (200) interface as the preferential region for fast alkaline hydrogen electrocatalysis. More importantly, the metallic Ru domains become electron deficient due to the strong interaction with RuO 2 domains and show substantially improved inoxidizability, which is vital to maintain durable HOR electrocatalytic activity. The optimal Ru/RuO 2 heterostructured electrocatalyst exhibits impressive alkaline HOR activity with an exchange current density of 8.86 mA cm −2 and decent durability. The exceptional electrocatalytic performance of Ru/RuO 2 in‐plane heterostructure can be attributed to the robust and multifunctional Ru–RuO 2 interfaces endowed by the unique metal–metal oxide domains.

Overcoming the sluggish kinetics of alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) is challenging but is of critical importance for practical anion exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, abundant and efficient interfacial active sites are created on ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles by anchoring atomically isolated chromium coordinated with hydroxyl clusters (Cr1(OH)x) for accelerated alkaline HOR. This catalyst system delivers 50-fold enhanced HOR activity with excellent durability and CO anti-poisoning ability via switching the active sites from Ru surface to Cr1(OH)x-Ru interface. Fundamentally different from the conventional mechanism merely focusing on surface metal sites, the isolated Cr1(OH)x could provide unique oxygen species for accelerating hydrogen or CO spillover from Ru to Cr1(OH)x. Furthermore, the original oxygen species from Cr1(OH)x are confirmed to participate in hydrogen oxidation and H2O formation. The incorporation of such atomically isolated metal hydroxide clusters in heterostructured catalysts opens up new opportunities for rationally designing advanced electrocatalysts for HOR and other complex electrochemical reactions. This work also highlights the importance of size effect of co-catalysts, which should also be paid substantial attention to in the catalysis field.

Developing a reliable synthesis strategy to concurrently realize electronic structure modulation and two‐dimensionalization of materials is of paramount significance yet still challenging. Herein, a facile and universal strategy is reported to fabricate defect‐abundant atomic‐layered materials with unique electronic structures by mechanical shear‐assisted exfoliation. As a proof‐of‐concept demonstration, atomic‐layered defect‐rich LiCoO 2 nanosheets (AD‐LCO) are successfully synthesized, which enable accelerated oxygen evolution kinetics with a substantially decreased oxygen evolution reaction overpotential by 184 and 216 mV at 10 and 50 mA cm –2 , respectively. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy suggests that AD‐LCO possesses more d ‐band holes and enhanced Co‐O covalency. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the presence of Co lattice vacancies can optimize the adsorption kinetics of intermediates, consequently lowering the energy barrier of the rate‐determining step. Importantly, this method has universal applicability to the fabrication of other ultrathin defect‐rich 2D materials such as BN, WS 2 , and MoS 2 . The study has potential implications for offering novel insights into the rational design of ultrathin 2D materials with abundant surface defects for various applications.

Superior catalyst supports are crucial to developing advanced electrocatalysts toward heterogeneous catalytic reactions. Herein, we systematically investigate the role of transition metal-functionalized N-doped carbon nanosheets (M-N-C, M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, and Ag) as the multifunctional electrocatalyst supports toward hydrogen evolution/oxidation reactions (HER/HOR) in alkaline media. The results demonstrate that all the M-N-C nanosheets, except Cu-N-C and Ag-N-C, can promote the alkaline HER/HOR electrocatalytic activity of Pt by accelerating the sluggish Volmer step, among which Mn plays a more significant role. Analyses reveal that the promotion effect of M-N-C support is closely associated with the electronegativity of the metal dopants and the relative filling degree of their d-orbitals. For one, the metal dopant in M-N-C with smaller electronegativity would provide more electrons to oxygen and hence tune the electronic structure of Pt via the M-O-Pt bonds at the interface. For another, the transition metal in M-N4 moieties with more empty d orbitals would hybridize with O 2p orbitals more strongly that promotes the adsorption of water/hydroxyl species. The results demonstrate the conceptual significance of multifunctional supports and would inspire the future development of advanced electrocatalysts.

Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted great attention in the field of electrocatalysis due to their exceptional activity, selectivity, 100% atom utilization, and tailorability of active sites at atomic level. The metal–support interactions and interatomic synergies, however, are severely limited due to the isolation of active sites in SACs which hinder their applications in some complex reactions. To this end, supported sub‐nanometer cluster catalysts (SNCCs, <2 nm) with nearly fully exposed active atoms may outperform the SACs in some specific catalytic reactions. The presence of abundant chemical bonds in the clusters can flexibly regulate the support–cluster interaction and build ensemble effect in the sub‐nanometer clusters for different electrocatalysis applications. In this review, recent advances of supported SNCCs in electrocatalysis applications are summarized and discussed for the first time. In particular, the importance of the support–cluster interactions and ensemble effect of the clusters in determining the catalytic performance of SNCCs are highlighted. Lastly, challenges and opportunities in SNCCs electrocatalysis are prospected.

Developing efficient platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalysts with high tolerance to CO poisoning for the methanol oxidation reaction is critical for the development of direct methanol fuel cells. In this work, cobalt single atoms are introduced to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of N-doped carbon supported Pt (N-C/Pt) for the methanol oxidation reaction. The cobalt single atoms are believed to play a critical role in accelerating the prompt oxidation of CO to CO2 and minimizing the CO blocking of the adjacent Pt active sites. Benefitting from the synergistic effects among the Co single atoms, the Pt nanoparticles, and the N-doped carbon support, the Co-modified N-C/Pt (Co-N-C/Pt) electrocatalyst simultaneously delivers impressive electrocatalytic activity and durability with lower onset potential and superb CO poisoning resistance as compared to the N-C/Pt and the commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts.