The lack of non-precious metal electrocatalysts

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the future work and stated research gap and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2023 and 2026, spanning 7 journals. Those papers have been cited 540 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 8 representative gaps

• Structural engineering of atomic catalysts for electrocatalysis (2024) · Chemical Science · cited 132× · doi

  In the past decade, SACs have made great progress in the eld of electrocatalysis due to their unique geometry and electronic structures, which are expected to replace commercial precious metal-based catalysts. DACs with the interaction between metal dimers are also emerging and show excellent electrocatalytic activity, which can solve the limitation caused by SACs to a certain extent. To better suit multi-electron complex reactions, TACs have been developed, which provide more possibilities for the adsorption of intermediates, and are conducive to better study the relationship between the structure and electrocatalytic activity. In this review, we summarize the progress of SACs, DACs and TACs in electrocatalysis systematically. By using defect engineering and an atomic limiting strategy to design precursors, the number of central metal atoms and the coordination environment can be regulated for specic electrocatalytic reactions. Up to now, SACs and DACs designed by electronic regulation have made good progress in electrocatalysis. As a rising star, TACs are in the initial stage of development. In general, electrocatalysts with different nuclear numbers and uniform active sites have broad application prospects, but some problems still need to be solved. (i) Controlled synthesis is still one of the biggest obstacles for atomic catalysts. At present, most of the atomic catalysts are synthesized by pyrolysis at high temperatures. The randomness of the coordination environment of the obtained catalysts is relatively large, and metal migration and agglomeration will inevitably occur. In addition, for DACs and TACs, active sites may possess multiple structures. By encapsulating precursors 5106 | Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 5082–5112 © 2024 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry Open Access Article. Published on 05 March 2024. Downloaded on 6/14/2026 7:24:58 AM.

  generalfuture workevidence 5/5
  Keywords: sacs metal catalysts dacs tacs progress atomic article made electrocatalysis electronic structures activity better reactions
• Engineering non-noble bifunctional catalysts for alkaline hydrogen and oxygen evolution (2026) · Discover Chemistry. · cited 1× · doi

  The replacement of noble-metal catalysts with non-noble alternatives is a challenge. The development of efficient, stable, and economically viable electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrolysis is a gap. The improvement of bifunctional activity in catalysts is a research need.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: replacement noble-metal catalysts non-noble alternatives challenge development efficient
• Investigation of growth mechanism for non-precious Co nanostructures as highly efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction (2026) · Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Engineering · doi

  The development of efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions is a significant challenge. Prior work has focused on precious metals, which are expensive and scarce. There is a need for the development of non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts with high activity and stability.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: development efficient cost-effective electrocatalysts hydrogen oxygen evolution reactions
• Constructing oxygen vacancies by doping Mo into spinel Co3O4 to trigger a fast oxide path mechanism for acidic oxygen evolution reaction (2024) · Journal of Materials Chemistry A · cited 129× · doi

  The lack of non-precious metal electrocatalysts for acidic oxygen evolution reaction that are highly durable, cost-effective, and efficient. The high cost and limited resources of precious metal-based electrocatalysts.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: lack non-precious metal electrocatalysts acidic oxygen evolution reaction
• Structural engineering of atomic catalysts for electrocatalysis (2024) · Chemical Science · cited 132× · doi

  The development of high-performance atomic catalysts is crucial for electrocatalysis. Technical challenges and research orientations are needed to facilitate the development of atomic catalysts. The structural engineering of atomic catalysts is necessary to improve their electrocatalytic activity and selectivity.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: development high-performance atomic catalysts crucial electrocatalysis technical challenges
• Synthesis of High-Entropy Alloy Nanomaterials for Electrocatalytic Multi-Electron Transfer Reactions (2026) · ACS Nano · cited 1× · doi

  Electrocatalytic multielectron transfer reactions are essential for clean energy conversion and the synthesis of value-added chemicals, yet their practical development is limited by the low selectivity, insufficient stability, and high cost of conventional catalysts.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: electrocatalytic multielectron transfer reactions essential clean energy conversion synthesis value added chemicals practical development limited
• Synergistic Mechanism of Sub‐Nanometric Ru Clusters Anchored on Tungsten Oxide Nanowires for High‐Efficient Bifunctional Hydrogen Electrocatalysis (2023) · Advanced Science · cited 145× · doi

  Abstract The construction of strong interactions and synergistic effects between small metal clusters and supports offers a great opportunity to achieve high‐performance and cost‐effective heterogeneous catalysis, however, studies on its applications in electrocatalysis are still insufficient.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: abstract construction strong interactions synergistic effects small metal clusters supports offers great opportunity achieve high
• Unlocking the Synergistic Promoter Role of Phosphorus in Evolving NiFe Phosphides for Enhanced Water Oxidation (2026) · Nano-Micro Letters · doi

  While structural evolution of electrocatalysts under working conditions has garnered considerable attention, as the evolved structure often dictates catalytic activity, the mechanisms driving these transformations and catalytic performance remain poorly understood.

  generalabstractevidence 2/5
  Keywords: catalytic structural evolution electrocatalysts working conditions garnered considerable attention evolved structure often dictates activity mechanisms

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