Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2022, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (3): 611-635.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(21)63899-8

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Light alloying element-regulated noble metal catalysts for energy-related applications

Hui Chena, Bo Zhangb, Xiao Lianga, Xiaoxin Zoua,*()   

  1. aState Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin, China
    bInternational Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, Jilin, China
  • Received:2021-04-29 Revised:2021-04-29 Online:2022-03-18 Published:2022-02-18
  • Contact: Xiaoxin Zou
  • About author:Xiaoxin Zou has received his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Jilin University (China) in June 2011; and then moved to the University of California, Riverside, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, as a postdoctoral scholar from July 2011 to October 2013. He is currently a professor at the State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry in Jilin University. His research interests are in hydrogen energy materials chemistry, comprising the elucidation of the atomic basis for water-splitting electrocatalysts, the prediction and searching of efficient catalysts with novel crystal structures as well as the development of original catalyst design principles. Some of his recent progresses include the computation-driven structural design/engineering of water splitting catalysts, the structural understanding and synthetic methods of interstitial intermetallic catalysts, the design principles of low-iridium oxygen-evolution catalysts for PEM electrolyzers, and the synthetic strategies of large-area, highly stable electrode materials. He has authored 80+ peer-reviewed papers and 10 patents. He joined the editorial board of Chin. J. Catal. in 2020.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(21922507);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21771079);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21901083);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21621001);Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Plan(YDZJ202101ZYTS126);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(21901083);China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2021M691202);111 Project(B17020)

Abstract:

Noble metals have been widely used as heterogeneous catalysts because they exhibit high activity and selectivity for many reactions of both academic and industrial interest. The introduction of light atomic species (e.g., H, B, C, and N) into noble metal lattices plays an important role in optimizing catalytic performance by modulating structural and electronic properties. In this review, we present a general overview of the recent advances in the modification of noble metals with light alloying elements for various catalytic reactions, particularly for energy-related applications. We summarize the types, location, concentration, and ordering degree of light atoms as major factors in the performance of noble metal-based catalysts, with emphasis on how they can be rationally controlled to promote activity and selectivity. We then summarize the synthetic strategies developed to incorporate light elements and highlight the theoretical and experimental methods for understanding the alloying effects. We further focus on the wide usage of noble metal-based catalysts modified with different light alloying atoms and attempt to correlate the structural features with their catalytic performances. Finally, we discuss current challenges and future perspectives regarding the development of highly efficient noble metal-based catalysts modified with light elements.

Key words: Noble metal, Heterogeneous catalysis, Light element, Alloy, Electronic structure