Recent Advances of CeO2‐Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen and Hydrogen Evolution as well as Nitrogen Reduction

• Published in: ChemElectroChem Vol. 8; no. 6; pp. 996 - 1020
• Main Authors: Song, Xue‐Zhi, Zhu, Wen‐Yu, Wang, Xiao‐Feng, Tan, Zhenquan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim John Wiley & Sons, Inc 12.03.2021
• Subjects: Catalysis; CeO2; Cerium oxides; Chemical reduction; Design defects; electrocatalysis; Electrocatalysts; Electronic structure; Energy conversion efficiency; hybrid materials; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Hydroxides; interface engineering; Metal oxides; Metal sulfides; Morphology; Optimization; oxygen defect; Oxygen evolution reactions; Phosphides; Storage capacity; Structural design
• ISSN: 2196-0216; 2196-0216
• DOI: 10.1002/celc.202001614

High‐performance electrocatalysts have been deeply investigated and widely explored to improve the energy conversion efficiency in advanced electrochemical technologies. As a vital rare‐earth oxide, CeO2 has shown great promise in catalysis for its feasible redox feature, high oxygen storage capacity, abundant surface oxygen defects, and structural robustness. The structural characteristics will boost the electrocatalytic activity and durability of CeO2‐based hybrids. In this Review, relevant research results focusing on recent hybrid materials between CeO2 and other functional species, including metal, metal oxides/hydroxides, metal sulfides and phosphides, towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) are summarized. This Review also highlights the key role of CeO2 and the structural design strategies in the hybrid electrocatalysts, including ion doping, interface and defect engineering, electronic structure optimization, and morphology control for catalytic output enhancement. Lastly, some scientific challenges and perspectives have been proposed, aiming to promote the development of other CeO2‐based hybrids for energy related electrocatalysis. Interface engineering: In this Review, the hybrid electrocatalysts between the key CeO2 component and other materials, including metal, metal oxides/hydroxides, metal sulfides and phosphides, are summarized towards oxygen evolution, hydrogen evolution, and nitrogen reduction reactions (OER, HER, and NRR, respectively). Some key structure design strategies, including ion doping, interface and defect engineering, electronic structure optimization, and morphology control, are comprehensively discussed. Furthermore, some scientific challenges and perspectives are pointed out.