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Predicting electrochemical activity

Nature Catalysis volume 1, pages 314–315 (2018)Cite this article

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Guiding principles for the design of novel catalysts are key to developing new synthesis approaches. Now, a general principle has been defined to predict the reactivity for the hydrogen cycle of atomically dispersed metals on carbon supports.

Bio-inspired research on iron- or cobalt-containing carbon-based materials that catalyse the ORR in fuel cells started decades ago. It has progressed tremendously since then, with atomically dispersed metal-ions coordinated to nitrogen and carbon atoms (metal–N x Cy moieties) being identified as the most active site in materials obtained via high-temperature pyrolysis2. The proof for the existence of such moieties after pyrolysis has only recently been expanded to other metals such as nickel or manganese, and their catalytic function observed for other reactions such as the OER for Ni–N x C y moieties3. These materials therefore represent a broad and promising class of novel catalysts.

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Fig. 1: Atomically dispersed metal-ions on carbon-based supports for electrochemical catalysis.

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  1. Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, UMR 5253, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier, France

    Frédéric Jaouen

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  1. Frédéric Jaouen
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Correspondence to Frédéric Jaouen.

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Jaouen, F. Predicting electrochemical activity. Nat Catal 1, 314–315 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-018-0076-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-018-0076-7

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