A fundamental change has been achieved in understanding surface electrochemistry due to the profound knowledge of the nature of electrocatalytic processes accumulated over the past several decades and to the recent technological advances in spectroscopy and high resolution imaging. Nowadays one can preferably design electrocatalysts based on the deep theoretical knowledge of electronic structures, via computer-guided engineering of the surface and (electro)chemical properties of materials, followed by the synthesis of practical materials with high performance for specific reactions. This review provides insights into both theoretical and experimental electrochemistry toward a better understanding of a series of key clean energy conversion reactions including oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The emphasis of this review is on the origin of the electrocatalytic activity of nanostructured catalysts toward the aforementioned reactions by correlating the apparent electrode performance with their intrinsic electrochemical properties. Also, a rational design of electrocatalysts is proposed starting from the most fundamental aspects of the electronic structure engineering to a more practical level of nanotechnological fabrication.

Design of electrocatalysts for oxygen- and hydrogen-involving energy conversion reactions

This paper reviews recent progress made in identifying electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction to produce low-carbon fuels, including CO, HCOOH/HCOO−, CH2O, CH4, H2C2O4/HC2O4−, C2H4, CH3OH, CH3CH2OH and others. The electrocatalysts are classified into several categories, including metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, metal complexes, polymers/clusters, enzymes and organic molecules. The catalyts' activity, product selectivity, Faradaic efficiency, catalytic stability and reduction mechanisms during CO2 electroreduction have received detailed treatment. In particular, we review the effects of electrode potential, solution–electrolyte type and composition, temperature, pressure, and other conditions on these catalyst properties. The challenges in achieving highly active and stable CO2 reduction electrocatalysts are analyzed, and several research directions for practical applications are proposed, with the aim of mitigating performance degradation, overcoming additional challenges, and facilitating research and development in this area.

A review of catalysts for the electroreduction of carbon dioxide to produce low-carbon fuels

Surface science studies of model fuel cell electrocatalysts

Electrocatalytic process of CO selectivity in electrochemical reduction of CO2 at metal electrodes in aqueous media

Interfacial processes involving electrocatalytic evolution and oxidation of H2, and the role of chemisorbed H

Electrosorption of methanol on a platinum electrode. IR spectroscopic evidence for adsorbed co species

The mechanism of electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid on Pt (100) and Pt (111) in sulphuric acid solution: an emirs study

A study by electrochemically modulated infrared reflectance spectroscopy of the electrosorption of formic acid at a platinum electrode

Infra red spectroscopy of the electrode-electrolyte interphase

Electrochemically modulated infrared spectroscopy (EMIRS): Experimental details

Alan Bewick

Papers

Electrosorption of methanol on a platinum electrode. IR spectroscopic evidence for adsorbed co species

The mechanism of electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid on Pt (100) and Pt (111) in sulphuric acid solution: an emirs study

A study by electrochemically modulated infrared reflectance spectroscopy of the electrosorption of formic acid at a platinum electrode

Infra red spectroscopy of the electrode-electrolyte interphase

Electrochemically modulated infrared spectroscopy (EMIRS): Experimental details