Grain Boundary Engineering: A Shortcut to Efficient Electrocatalytic Reactions

Grain boundary engineering has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, which optimizes material properties by precisely controlling the density and characteristics of grain boundaries. Various advanced fabrication methods have emerged, such as pulsed laser ablation, electrodeposition, vapor phase growth, and interfacial synthesis. These techniques enable the production of grain boundary-enriched materials through the precise control of manufacturing parameters. Additionally, grain boundary engineering demonstrates substantial potential in diverse catalytic applications. This review thoroughly examines recent advancements in grain boundary engineering. First, it investigates key fabrication methods such as pulsed laser ablation, electrodeposition, vapor phase growth, and interfacial synthesis, explaining how they create grain boundary-enriched materials. Second, it explores its applications in various electrocatalytic reactions. Last but not least, it delves into the integration of grain boundary engineering with artificial intelligence for structure prediction and property optimization. Looking ahead, as synthesis technologies continue to improve and characterization methods advance, grain boundary engineering is expected to achieve more breakthroughs in energy conversion, storage, and environmental protection. It is particularly promising in the development of efficient and low-cost catalysts.