Recent progress of gel-based materials in energy storage and conversion

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Electrocatalysts are crucial for renewable energy and industrial processes.
• Current inorganic catalysts (noble metals/oxides) have limitations: cost, efficiency, and flexibility.
• Gel materials present unique physicochemical properties for advanced energy applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review recent advancements in gel-based electrocatalysts.
• To summarize synthetic strategies and structure-performance relationships of gel materials.
• To provide an overview of gel electrocatalysts in energy conversion and storage.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advancements in gel-based electrocatalysts.
• Systematic summary of synthetic strategies for gel materials.
• Analysis of structure-property relationships for gel electrocatalyst performance.

Main Results:

• Gel materials exhibit promising properties for electrocatalysis.
• Various synthetic routes enable tailored gel structures.
• Gel electrocatalysts show potential in water electrolysis, oxygen reduction, and CO2 reduction.

Conclusions:

• Gel-based electrocatalysts represent a promising alternative to traditional inorganic catalysts.
• Further research into synthesis and structure-property relationships can optimize performance.
• Gel electrocatalysts hold significant potential for advancing renewable energy technologies.