Advanced catalysts for sustainable hydrogen generation and storage via hydrogen evolution and carbon dioxide/nitrogen reduction reactions

Accompanied by continuous increasing energy crisis and CO2-induced global warming, constructing renewable energy system becomes one of the major scientific challenges. Thereinto, electrocatalysis plays a critical role in clean energy conversion, enabling a series of sustainable chemistries and processes for future technologies. Herein, we mainly discuss recent advances of heterogeneous electrocatalysts for hydrogen production and storage via several clean energy reactions such as hydrogen evolution, carbon dioxide and nitrogen reduction. Emphasis is given to the structure/composition-catalytic activity relationship and strategies of performance improvement. Certainly, several challenges and research directions toward these reactions are also discussed. The comprehensive review might provide guidance to design robust electrocatalysts that allow for the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.