Corrosion and Protection of Electrocatalysts toward Advanced Energy Technologies

Abstract

High‐efficiency electrocatalysts play an important role in clean energy conversion technologies. Generally, electrocatalysts in different environments, including voltage, acid, and alkali electrolytes, are more susceptible to corrosion, which will induce structural and performance changes. Based on the latest achievements in the corrosion and protection of electrocatalysts in advanced energy technologies, this review mainly studies the application of various corrosion strategies to construct superior electrocatalysts, including chemical etching, metal corrosion transformation, and corrosion reconstruction, and their affecting factors are also appraised and summarized. To improve the stability of electrocatalysts, various corrosion inhibition strategies, such as carrier improvement and composition regulation accompanied by structure optimization, are reviewed. In addition, the application of catalyst corrosion in electrochemical energy technologies is examined from the perspective of the structure‐activity‐performance relationship. In the end, this article concludes the perspective and challenges of electrocatalyst corrosion in energy conversion and storage technologies. This article provides insights and directions for designing electrocatalysts with high efficiency and low corrosion, which is beneficial for developing corrosion chemistry for sustainable energy technologies.