Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

Electrocatalysts are materials that speed up electrochemical reactions—such as splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, or converting hydrogen and oxygen back into electricity in a fuel cell—by lowering the energy needed to drive those reactions at an electrode surface. Developing efficient, durable, and earth-abundant catalysts for these processes is central to making renewable energy storage and conversion economically viable at scale. Much of the current research focuses on understanding exactly how nanomaterial structure, composition, and surface chemistry determine catalytic performance, particularly for the oxygen reduction reaction, which remains a major bottleneck in fuel cell efficiency. Open questions include how to move beyond expensive platinum-group metals toward cheaper alternatives without sacrificing activity or longevity, and how to design catalysts that remain stable under the harsh electrochemical conditions of real devices.

Works

154,069

Total citations

5,818,596

Keywords

ElectrocatalysisEnergy ConversionOxygen ReductionHydrogen EvolutionCatalystsWater Splitting