Recent Advances in the Large-Scale Production of Photo/Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion and beyond

Abstract

Photocatalysis and electrocatalysis have emerged as promising technologies for addressing the energy crisis and environmental issues. However, the widespread application of these technologies is hampered by the challenge of scaling up the production of photo/electrocatalysts that are not only highly active and stable but also cost-effective and environmentally benign. This review delves into the latest advancements in the large-scale synthesis of photo/electrocatalysts. The factors to be considered in the large-scale production of catalysts are discussed first. The synthesis methods for batch preparation of photo/electrocatalysts are then comprehensively introduced, with a thorough discussion of their respective advantages and limitations. Moreover, the data analysis via machine learning techniques, which not only accelerates the identification and refinement of potential new catalysts but also offers insights for enhancing the high-throughput synthesis of catalysts, is introduced in detail. Then the representative examples are presented to illustrate the applications of large-scale catalysts in the field of industrial-level photo/electrocatalysis. Finally, the challenges and prospects in the development of large-scale production of photo/electrocatalysts are discussed. By bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrial application, this review aims to provide a reference for the future of large-scale preparation of photo/electrocatalysts in sustainable energy conversion and beyond.