Issue 36, 2021

Emerging carbon shell-encapsulated metal nanocatalysts for fuel cells and water electrolysis

Abstract

The development of low-cost, high-efficiency electrocatalysts is of primary importance for hydrogen energy technology. Noble metal-based catalysts have been extensively studied for decades; however, activity and durability issues still remain a challenge. In recent years, carbon shell-encapsulated metal (M@C) catalysts have drawn great attention as novel materials for water electrolysis and fuel cell applications. These electrochemical reactions are governed mainly by interfacial charge transfer between the core metal and the outer carbon shell, which alters the electronic structure of the catalyst surface. Furthermore, the rationally designed and fine-tuned carbon shell plays a very interesting role as a protective layer or molecular sieve layer to improve the performance and durability of energy conversion systems. Herein, we review recent advances in the use of M@C type nanocatalysts for extensive applications in fuel cells and water electrolysis with a focus on the structural design and electronic structure modulation of carbon shell-encapsulated metal/alloys. Finally, we highlight the current challenges and future perspectives of these catalytic materials and related technologies in this field.

Graphical abstract: Emerging carbon shell-encapsulated metal nanocatalysts for fuel cells and water electrolysis

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
01 Mar 2021
Accepted
15 Jul 2021
First published
19 Aug 2021

Nanoscale, 2021,13, 15116-15141

Emerging carbon shell-encapsulated metal nanocatalysts for fuel cells and water electrolysis

J. Jang, A. A. Jeffery, J. Min, N. Jung and S. J. Yoo, Nanoscale, 2021, 13, 15116 DOI: 10.1039/D1NR01328A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements