Investigating on-chip micro- and nanodevices for engineering electrocatalysis

Abstract

In order to fully utilize high-performance catalysts, thorough electrochemical research is urgently needed to obtain accurate and multi-dimensional information about electrochemical interfaces. However, traditional electrochemical methods, such Q5 as in situ dynamic monitoring, external field regulation, and single-entity electrocatalytic detection, still offer opportunities for further exploration. Notably, inspired by the recent success in nanoelectronic semiconductor devices, the emerging field of on-chip electrocatalytic microdevices has emerged as a powerful alternative platform to traditional techniques. This unique device configuration offers several advantages, including in situ electronic/electrochemical measurements and adjustable microstructure of individual catalysts, which is constantly expanded to probe electrochemical processes and obtain previously inaccessible information. This review covers recently published work on a range of electrochemical reactions, including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and other electrochemical reactions. Finally, the review also presents some personal perspectives on the challenges in this promising area.