Ferroelectric Materials and Their Applications in Activation of Small Molecules

The demand for renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources has attracted extensive research on high-performance catalysts. Ferroelectrics, a class of materials with switchable polarization, are unique and promising catalyst candidates due to the significant effects of polarization on surface chemistry and physics. The band bending at the ferroelectric/semiconductor interface induced by the polarization flip promotes charge separation and transfer, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic performance. More importantly, the reactants can be selectively adsorbed on the surface of ferroelectric materials depending on the polarization direction, which can effectively lift the basic limitations as imposed by Sabatier's principle on catalytic activity. This Review summarizes the latest developments of ferroelectric materials and introduces ferroelectric-related catalytic applications. The possible research directions of 2D ferroelectric materials in chemical catalysis are discussed at the end. The Review is expected to inspire extensive research interests from physical, chemical, and materials science communities.