Chevrel phases: synthesis, structure, and electrocatalytic applications

Chevrel phases (CPs) with the chemical formula of M_xMo₆T₈ (T = S, Se, and Te) have drawn great interest as noble-metal-free electrocatalysts in recent years owing to their unique open crystal structure and versatile functionalities. Herein, the representative efforts and progress made on CP electrocatalysts are overviewed, focussing on how the crystal structure and surface configurations affect the efficiency. In brief, the crystal structure of CPs is introduced first, and then the design and fabrication of CPs and their prominent catalytic performance are discussed in detail. Finally, the prospects of CPs in electrocatalysis are offered. It is anticipated that this review would aid in gaining in-depth insights into CPs and inspire the exploitation of more cost-efficient catalysts.