Lattice‐Strain Engineering for Heterogenous Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

The energy efficiency of metal–air batteries and water‐splitting techniques is severely constrained by multiple electronic transfers in the heterogenous oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and the high overpotential induced by the sluggish kinetics has become an uppermost scientific challenge. Numerous attempts are devoted to enabling high activity, selectivity, and stability via tailoring the surface physicochemical properties of nanocatalysts. Lattice‐strain engineering as a cutting‐edge method for tuning the electronic and geometric configuration of metal sites plays a pivotal role in regulating the interaction of catalytic surfaces with adsorbate molecules. By defining the d‐band center as a descriptor of the structure–activity relationship, the individual contribution of strain effects within state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalysts can be systematically elucidated in the OER optimization mechanism. In this review, the fundamentals of the OER and the advancements of strain‐catalysts are showcased and the innovative trigger strategies are enumerated, with particular emphasis on the feedback mechanism between the precise regulation of lattice‐strain and optimal activity. Subsequently, the modulation of electrocatalysts with various attributes is categorized and the impediments encountered in the practicalization of strained effect are discussed, ending with an outlook on future research directions for this burgeoning field.

Substrate Strain Engineering of Single-Atomic Sn-N4 Sites Embedded in Various Carbon Matrixes for Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysis

“…Another approach to strain engineering of carbon materials involves introducing an external lattice strain by applying external forces artificially or creating a lattice mismatch by constructing heterostructures with supporting materials. ,,, Although the lattice strain in the carbon substrate is thermodynamically unstable and hard to maintain when the external force is removed or the carbon substrate slips with the supporting material, this method allows for continuous and controllable tuning of catalytic activities. ,− Therefore, we further discussed the effect of external lattice strain on the catalytic performance of Sn-N 4 moieties. Since it is difficult to apply controllable external strain to GQDs from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, our investigation was focused on the effect of axial lattice strain on the ORR/OER performance of Sn-N 4 -(5,0) CNT and the effect of in-plane lattice strain on that of Sn-N 4 -Gra.…”

Electrochemical Oxidation Encapsulated Ru Clusters Enable Robust Durability for Efficient Oxygen Evolution

“…[1][2][3] Heterogeneous oxygen evolution reactions (OER) based on multi-electron-proton transfer are essential to achieve fast electrical-chemical energy reversible conversion, especially as the fundamental step in rechargeable metal-air battery systems. [4][5][6] However, the high overpotential originating from the transfer of three key intermediates ( * OH, * O, and * OOH) severely impedes the improvement of cell energy (VS 2 ) has a larger interlayer spacing of 0.57 nm together with good electrical conductivity and weak van der Waals interlayer interactions, rendering it hopefully an ideal material for investigating interactions between clusters and substrates. [24] In this work, enlightened by the encapsulated catalyst and MSI, we report a pervasive strategy for Ru cluster anchoring on the VS 2 surface, where Ru-VS 2 catalysts are disorderly embedded in the carbon fibers and assembled into integrated electrodes.…”

Strain Engineering of the NiTe/Ni2P Heterostructure to Boost the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

“…The strain engineering caused by regulating the distance between surface atoms can result in the upshift of the d-band center and changes to the electronic structure and surface absorption energy, so many investigations have focused on the strain engineering of catalysts to improve catalytic activity and stability. − According to previous reports, two methods are often used to introduce the strain of materials. One is using guest element doping into the lattice of crystal materials to induce strain in the materials.…”