Linking Synthetic Materials Chemistry to Electrocatalytic Performance

Synthetic materials chemistry is the central foundation for advancing the design of solid-state electrocatalysts, where control over synthetic properties such as phase, composition, crystallinity, defect density, oxidation state, coordination environment, morphology, particle size, and electrical conductivity determine electrochemical performance descriptors. These descriptors include nature of active sites, number of active sites, mass and charge transport, and the local reaction environment, which collectively govern electrocatalytic peformance (ECP), namely activity, selectivity, and durability. In this review, we highlight the synthetic strategies currently employed in the electrocatalysis literature and show how they enable control over the properties of the in situ-formed active catalyst and its ECP. After highlighting the state of the art, we discuss how new developments in in situ analytics, data-driven discovery, and autonomous robotics could further improve the understanding, predictability, reproducibility, and throughput of materials synthesis. With these advancements, synthetic materials chemistry will remain a key driving force for electrocatalyst development.