Noble Metal/Iron-Group Metal Compound Composite Catalysts: Characterization, Synthesis, and Electrocatalytic Application

Abstract

Electrocatalysis is hindered by challenges such as the scarcity and high cost of noble metals, as well as the deactivation of active sites under reaction conditions. While iron-group metal compound (IGMC) offer abundant reserves and unique electronic structures, it often suffers- from high overpotentials and insufficient stability, limiting its practical applications. Noble metal/IGMC composite catalysts address these issues by enabling precise tuning of electronic structures through hybrid synthesis strategies, thereby enhancing catalytic activity and establishing efficient synergistic mechanisms. This review categorizes noble metal/IGMC composite systems based on noble metal size (single atoms, clusters, nanoparticles), comprehensively summarizing research progress in this field. It focuses on elaborating synthesis strategies for different size-based systems, while delving into the synergistic enhancement mechanisms at multi-component interfaces during electrocatalysis, and analyzing the regulatory role of strong metal-support interaction (SMSI). By integrating multi-scale characterization techniques and electrocatalytic application studies, the dynamic reconstruction rules of active sites and their practical application potentials are deeply revealed, providing critical theoretical support and scientific guidance for the rational design of high-performance catalytic materials.