Dear Colleagues,

Electrocatalytic conversion technologies, including electrochemical water splitting, CO₂/nitrogen reduction, oxygen reduction, hydrogen oxidation, and so on, are proven to be important ways to alleviate the challenges of the energy crisis and environmental pollution. However, most of these electrochemical methods involve a complex multi-step electronic transfer process, which leads to slow catalytic reaction kinetics and seriously hinders their energy conversion efficiency. Designing electrode materials with a high catalytic activity and robust stability is an important way to improve the efficiency and practicality of these technologies. Most importantly, the development of low-cost electrode materials (the first row of transition metals) with comparable activity to precious metals is vital.

Surface/interfacial chemical engineering is capable of motivating novel physical/chemical properties as well as superior synergistic effects for non-precious metal-based electrode materials for electrocatalysis. Doping, interface modulation, and defect engineering have been considered effective strategies to optimize electrical conductivity, catalytic active site exposure, and reaction energy barrier of electrode material. Although many new materials and structures are widely used in the field of electrocatalysis, an in-depth understanding of the catalytic sites, electronic structures, and reaction mechanisms is still lacking. The internal connection between structure and performance is essential for guiding other advanced electrode materials.

This Special Issue aims to compile a set of manuscripts about the controllable design of non-precious metal-based electrode materials for electrochemical-related catalytic reactions, including water splitting, CO₂/N₂ reduction, O₂ reduction, aldehyde/urea oxidation as well as other related electrolysis processes. Moreover, we are also interested in the design of new materials, electronic structure regulation, surface interface optimization, and in-depth catalytic mechanism research. In a word, systemic work includes multi-field crossings that are expected.

Prof. Dr. Pengzuo Chen
Dr. Xu Peng
Guest Editors

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• non-noble metal elements
• functional materials
• surface/interface regulation
• electronic structure
• electrocatalysis
• reaction mechanisms