Electrocatalyst Fabrication Using Metal Nanoparticles Prepared in Ionic Liquids

Metal nanoparticle-based electrocatalysts are widely used in electronic devices, which serve for electrochemical reactions like oxygen reduction reaction, alcohol oxidation and CO2 reduction reaction. These catalyst-dependent reactions are the key of the emerging clean energy systems. Catalyst design and synthesis therefore have received keen attention in past decades. We are motivated to study synthesis approaches of metal nanoparticle-based electrocatalysts using ionic liquids (ILs), which are promising solvents for the nanoparticle preparation because of their unique physicochemical properties. In this personal account, we review our previous and present works on nanoparticle preparation in IL and utilization of the obtained nanoparticles as electrocatalysts.

Automated summary

Metal nanoparticle-based electrocatalysts, which are used in electronic devices for various electrochemical reactions, play a key role in emerging clean energy systems. Catalyst design and synthesis have been extensively studied in the past decades, with a particular focus on synthesis approaches using ionic liquids (ILs) as promising solvents for nanoparticle preparation. In this personal account, we review our previous and current research on nanoparticle preparation in IL and the utilization of these nanoparticles as electrocatalysts.