Recent advances in one-dimensional noble-metal-based catalysts with multiple structures for efficient fuel-cell electrocatalysis

The noble-metal-based catalysts (NMBCs) have always been the promising catalytic materials in fuel cell electrocatalysis. Among diversified NMBCs, one dimension (1D) construction endows them with unique anisotropic structure, large specific surface area, and high flexibility and stability, which contribute to the superior catalytic behaviors than the bulk counterparts in fuel cell reactions, mainly including (anodic alcohol oxidation reaction (AOR) and cathodic oxygen reduction oxidation (ORR)). In the field of electrocatalysis, a large number of 1D NMBCs have been reported. However, a comprehensive review of the substructure design, as well as the systematic analysis of their performance enhancement still need further research and summary. In this review, we firstly expounded the basal understanding of AOR and ORR in fuel cells in terms of the catalytic mechanism and crucial problems, then discussed the recent advances and superiorities in the 1D NMBCs with well-defined substructures, involving 1D core@shell, ultrathin, networked, hollow, jagged, and heterogeneous structures. Moreover, we highlighted the advanced strategies for improving the catalytic performances of 1D NMBCs, which involves robust composition, interface, facet, strain, and defect engineering. Finally, we outlooked the challenges and perspectives for the further enhancement in precise synthesis, performance improvement, and mechanism investigation of 1D NMBCs towards fuel cell electrocatalysis. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

1D noble-metal-based catalysts (NMBCs) exhibit unique structures and superior catalytic behaviors in fuel cell reactions, but further research is needed on strategies for performance enhancement.