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In Search of Excellence: Convex versus Concave Noble Metal Nanostructures for Electrocatalytic Applications
Author(s) -
Iqbal Muhammad,
Bando Yoshio,
Sun Ziqi,
Wu Kevin C.W.,
Rowan Alan E.,
Na Jongbeom,
Guan Bu Yuan,
Yamauchi Yusuke
Publication year - 2021
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.202004554
Subject(s) - noble metal , materials science , electrocatalyst , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , nanostructure , nanocages , catalysis , metal , electrochemistry , electrode , chemistry , metallurgy , biochemistry
Controlling the shape of noble metal nanoparticles is a challenging but important task in electrocatalysis. Apart from hollow and nanocage structures, concave noble metal nanoparticles are considered a new class of unconventional electrocatalysts that exhibit superior electrocatalytic properties as compared with those of conventional nanoparticles (including convex and flat ones). Herein, several facile and highly reproducible routes for synthesizing nanostructured concave noble metal materials reported in the literature are discussed, together with their advantages over noble metal nanoparticles with convex shapes. In addition, possible ways of optimizing the synthesis procedure and enhancing the electrocatalytic characteristics of concave metal nanoparticles are suggested. Nanostructured noble metals with concave features are found to show better catalytic activity and stability hence improve their practical applicability in electrocatalysis.