The Influence of Nanoconfinement on Electrocatalysis

Area of Science:

• Electrocatalysis
• Nanomaterials
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Nanoparticles and nanostructured electrodes are widely employed in electrocatalysis.
• These nanometric systems exhibit varying degrees of nanoconfinement based on their geometry.
• The impact of nanoconfinement on electrocatalytic activity and selectivity is often underestimated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify systems with different degrees of nanoconfinement in electrocatalysis.
• To elucidate how nanoconfinement influences the activity and selectivity of electrocatalytic reactions.
• To provide a fundamental understanding of nanoconfinement's effects on electrochemistry and electrocatalysis.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on nanoconfinement in electrocatalysis.
• Analysis of how geometric factors influence nanoconfinement effects.
• Integration of insights from atomically precise manufacturing and theoretical modeling advancements.

Main Results:

• Nanoconfinement, beyond surface area increase, significantly affects electrocatalytic performance.
• Specific geometric configurations of nanostructures lead to distinct nanoconfinement effects.
• Emerging techniques and models are beginning to reveal the fundamental electrochemical impacts of nanoconfinement.

Conclusions:

• Nanostructuring should be viewed as a tool to manipulate electrocatalysis beyond surface area.
• Nanoconfinement offers a pathway to overcome thermodynamic limitations in electrocatalysis.
• Further research into nanoconfinement is crucial for advancing electrocatalytic applications.