Controlled Synthesis and Structure Engineering of Transition Metal‐based Nanomaterials for Oxygen and Hydrogen Electrocatalysis in Zinc‐Air Battery and Water‐Splitting Devices

Abstract

Electrocatalytic energy conversion plays a crucial role in realizing energy storage and utilization. Clean energy technologies such as water electrolysis, fuel cells, and metal‐air batteries heavily depend on a series of electrochemical redox reactions occurring on the catalysts surface. Therefore, developing efficient electrocatalysts is conducive to remarkably improved performance of these devices. Among numerous studies, transition metal‐based nanomaterials (TMNs) have been considered as promising catalysts by virtue of their abundant reserves, low cost, and well‐designed active sites. This Minireview is focused on the typical clean electrochemical reactions: hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and oxygen reduction reaction. Recent efforts to optimize the external morphology and the internal electronic structure of TMNs are described, and beginning with single‐component TMNs, the active sites are clarified, and strategies for exposing more active sites are discussed. The summary about multi‐component TMNs demonstrates the complementary advantages of integrating functional compositions. A general introduction of single‐atom TMNs is provided to deepen the understanding of the catalytic process at an atomic scale. Finally, current challenges and development trends of TMNs in clean energy devices are summarized.

Stabilization of LiCoO2 Cathodes in High Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries Through 2‐(Trifluoromethyl)Benzamide (2‐TFMBA) Electrolyte Additives

“…LiCoO 2 is the prevailing commercial cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and has received substantial attention from both academia and industry. [1][2][3] Especially, LiCoO 2 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400087 cathode shows numerous advantages, including substantial theoretical capacity of 274 (mAh g −1 ), high volumetric energy density, and commendable Li + /electron conductivity. However, the practical discharge capacity of LiCoO 2 , while delivering stable cycling performance, is constrained to approximately 170 mAh g −1 owing to limitations imposed by the electrolyte (operating at 4.4 V vs Li/Li + ).…”