Opportunities and Challenges in Utilizing Metal-Modified Transition Metal Carbides as Low-Cost Electrocatalysts

Energy storage and conversion devices will become more prevalent as solar energy capacity rapidly increases. Electrocatalysts are vital to these devices that perform water electrolysis, CO2 electrochemical reduction, and fuel cell reactions, but they are often based on expensive and scarce platinum group metals (PGMs). In this Perspective, we summarize the potential applications of low-cost transition metal carbides (TMCs) to optimize hydrogen evolution/oxidation reactions, oxygen evolution/reduction reactions, CO2 electrochemical reduction, and alcohol oxidation reactions. The most recent advances in understanding the activity and stability of TMC electrocatalysts for each reaction are highlighted. Promising research directions are provided for both fundamental studies on model surfaces and the development of industrially relevant high-surface-area electrocatalysts. The potential applications of TMCs are presented within the context of the global energy trends that are currently driving the growth of energy storage and conversion devices.