journal article·2024-10Open access

Rational Design of Earth‐Abundant Catalysts toward Sustainability

Jinyang Guo, Yousof Haghshenas, Yiran Jiao, Priyank Kumar, Boris I. Yakobson, Ajit Roy, Yan Jiao, Klaus Regenauer‐Lieb, David Nguyen, Zhenhai Xia

Advanced Materials· Volume 36· Issue 42

Abstract

Abstract Catalysis is crucial for clean energy, green chemistry, and environmental remediation, but traditional methods rely on expensive and scarce precious metals. This review addresses this challenge by highlighting the promise of earth‐abundant catalysts and the recent advancements in their rational design. Innovative strategies such as physics‐inspired descriptors, high‐throughput computational techniques, and artificial intelligence (AI)‐assisted design with machine learning (ML) are explored, moving beyond time‐consuming trial‐and‐error approaches. Additionally, biomimicry, inspired by efficient enzymes in nature, offers valuable insights. This review systematically analyses these design strategies, providing a roadmap for developing high‐performance catalysts from abundant elements. Clean energy applications (water splitting, fuel cells, batteries) and green chemistry (ammonia synthesis, CO2 reduction) are targeted while delving into the fundamental principles, biomimetic approaches, and current challenges in this field. The way to a more sustainable future is paved by overcoming catalyst scarcity through rational design.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction · Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · Machine Learning in Materials Science

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Chemical Engineering University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia

School of Chemical Engineering University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia

Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering Rice University Houston Texas 77251 USA

U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Wright‐Patterson Air Force Base Dayton Ohio USA

Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation Canberra ACT 2601 Australia

WA School of Mines: Minerals Energy and Chemical Engineering Curtin University Perth WA 6151 Australia

N2N AI PTY LTD Sydney NSW 2206 Australia

Funding

Australian Research Council

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