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Carbon‐Rich Nanomaterials: Fascinating Hydrogen and Oxygen Electrocatalysts
Author(s) -
Zhang Jian,
Chen Guangbo,
Müllen Klaus,
Feng Xinliang
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201800528
Subject(s) - water splitting , materials science , carbon fibers , nanotechnology , hydrogen fuel , hydrogen , nanomaterials , hydrogen production , fossil fuel , energy transformation , catalysis , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite number , photocatalysis , composite material , thermodynamics , physics
Hydrogen energy is commonly considered as a clean and sustainable alternative to the traditional fossil fuels. Toward universal utilization of hydrogen energy, developing high‐efficiency, low‐cost, and sustainable energy conversion technologies, especially water‐splitting electrolyzers and fuel cells, is of paramount significance. In order to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of the water‐splitting electrolyzers and fuel cells, earth‐abundant and stable electrocatalysts are essential for accelerating the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen and oxygen reactions. In the past decade, carbon‐rich nanomaterials have emerged as a promising class of hydrogen and oxygen electrocatalysts. Here, the development and electrocatalytic activity of various carbon‐rich materials, including metal‐free carbon, conjugated porous polymers, graphdiyne, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), atomic‐metal‐doped carbon, as well as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), are demonstrated. In particular, the correlations between their porous nanostructures/electronic structures of active centers and electrocatalytic performances are emphatically discussed. Therefore, this review article guides the rational design and synthesis of high‐performance, metal‐free, and noble‐metal‐free carbon‐rich electrocatalysts and eventually advances the rapid development of water‐splitting electrolyzers and fuel cells toward practical applications.