Design and Application of Foams for Electrocatalysis

Developing low cost and efficient anode and cathode materials toward electrocatalysis are regarded as one of the most desirable yet challenging research directions, which are intimately related to the pressing energy, environmental and human health issues. Currently, 3D foam (such as Ni foam, Cu foam, and graphene foam) based heterogeneous catalysts have been intensively explored for actively catalyzing the electrode reactions. Their inherent characteristics of stereonetwork structure, high specific area and large pore volume not only provide better mass transport of reactants to electrode surfaces, but also pave 3D electron transport pathways. Herein, recent significant progress and rational design of foambased electrocatalysts are reviewed. In addition, some insights into current challenges and future directions of foams for efficient electrocatalysis are proposed and discussed.