Surface-engineered Catalysts for Water Splitting and Zinc-air Battery

Energy conversion and storage from renewable sources has been regarded as an advisable solution to greatly relieve the pressure from fossil fuels. Until now, among several energy systems, both water splitting and rechargeable metal-air batteries are the most efficient and eco-friendly classifications. Electrochemical reactions, such as hydrogen evolution reactions, and oxygen evolution/reduction reactions, are the core reactions governing all the above systems by electrocatalysts. Consequently, the fabrication of advanced catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and stability is one of the most significant subjects of our present research. Herein, my presentation mainly focuses on the design and synthesis of transition metal-based catalysts over precision control of the crystalline structures, compositions, and surface chemistry. Particularly, it includes metal oxide, alloy, phosphide, and chalcogenide-based catalysts, etc., with accurate morphology and composition regulations by a variety of electrochemical and chemical treatments. These electrocatalysts can be devoted to high catalytic performances by solving the sluggish reaction kinetics and side reactions during the catalytic reactions