Recent advances in LaCoO ₃ -based perovskite nanostructures for electrocatalytic and photocatalytic applications

Meeting the need for sustainable energy with a small environmental footprint will depend heavily on both electrocatalytic and photocatalytic technologies for efficient energy conversion and environmental remediation. Together, these technologies will contribute to a lower reliance on fossil fuels while minimizing environmental impact, aligning with global efforts toward achieving sustainable development goals. This review highlights the latest developments in the synthesis and characterization of LaCoO3 nanostructures, a promising class of materials with a broad range of potential electrocatalytic and photocatalytic uses. The electrocatalytic applications of LaCoO3 include the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), while the photocatalytic applications include wastewater remediation through the degradation of organic pollutants. We emphasize the ability of LaCoO3 perovskite-based nanostructures to use light to catalyze chemical reactions, including water (H2O) splitting for energy production and pollutant photodegradation for environmental remediation, highlighting their potential in sustainable energy and environmental applications. Various synthesis methods for altering the crystal structure and morphology of pure LaCoO3 are compiled and discussed, including doping and heterostructure formation, to determine the feasibility of using LaCoO3 in energy and environmental catalytic applications. This review provides future research directions to fully utilize the potential of LaCoO3 nanostructures to tackle global energy and environmental challenges.