Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026
09:53
Predicting Catalyst Extrudate Breakage Based on the Modulus of Rupture
Published on: May 13, 2018
8.7K
Structural Self-Reconstruction of Catalysts in Electrocatalysis
Hongliang Jiang1, Qun He1, Youkui Zhang1,2
1National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, CAS Centre for Excellence in Nanoscience , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230029 , P. R. China.
Accounts of Chemical Research
|October 31, 2018
Summary
Understanding electrocatalyst self-reconstruction is key to identifying active sites. This study reviews in situ techniques and theoretical calculations to reveal how catalysts change during reactions, guiding the design of better electrocatalysts.
Area of Science:
- Electrocatalysis and materials science focused on clean energy applications.
- Surface chemistry and reaction mechanisms in electrochemical systems.
Background:
- Electrocatalysis is crucial for clean energy technologies, but identifying active sites and mechanisms remains challenging.
- Traditional ex situ characterization methods fail to capture dynamic structural changes during electrocatalysis.
- Electrocatalysts often undergo structural self-reconstruction under operating potentials, altering their activity and selectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide insights into the structural self-reconstruction of electrocatalysts during electrochemical reactions.
- To emphasize the importance of understanding self-reconstruction for identifying true active sites and catalytic mechanisms.
- To offer guidelines for the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts based on self-reconstruction phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent progress in understanding electrocatalyst structural self-reconstruction.
- Emphasis on the combination of in situ/operando characterization techniques and theoretical calculations.
- Discussion of fundamental origins, structure-property relationships, and evolutionary processes of self-reconstruction.
Main Results:
- Electrocatalysts undergo significant structural self-reconstruction, transforming 'precatalysts' into 'true catalysts' under reaction conditions.
- In situ/operando techniques are essential for monitoring dynamic structural changes and capturing reaction intermediates.
- Atomic-level correlations between precatalyst structure and self-reconstruction behavior are critical for performance.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the self-reconstruction process is vital for elucidating electrocatalytic mechanisms and identifying active sites.
- Combining advanced characterization with theoretical calculations enables clarification of activity enhancement/degradation mechanisms.
- Tuning self-reconstruction offers a pathway for rational design and improved performance of electrocatalysts.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Reconstruction of Signal using Interpolation
729
Signal processing techniques are essential for accurately converting continuous signals to digital formats and vice versa. When a continuous signal is sampled with a period T, the resulting sampled signal exhibits replicas of the original spectrum in the frequency domain, spaced at intervals equal to the sampling frequency. To handle this sampled signal, a zero-order hold method can be applied, which creates a piecewise constant signal by retaining each sample's value until the next...
729
02:22Structures of Solids
17.7K
Solids in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite repeating pattern are known as crystalline solids. Metals and ionic compounds typically form ordered, crystalline solids. A crystalline solid has a precise melting temperature because each atom or molecule of the same type is held in place with the same forces or energy. Amorphous solids or non-crystalline solids (or, sometimes, glasses) which lack an ordered internal structure and are randomly arranged. Substances that...
17.7K
02:34Structural Isomerism
21.7K
Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can...
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can...
21.7K
03:38Structure of Lipids
98.8K
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic...
98.8K
00:56Viral Structure
74.5K
Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
74.5K
01:10Antibody Structure
65.6K
Overview
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
65.6K