Recent advances in nanostructured transition metal phosphides: synthesis and energy-related applications

Yanmei Shi,^a Mengyang Li,^ab Yifu Yu

^a and Bin Zhang

*^ac

* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Molecular Plus, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
E-mail: bzhang@tju.edu.cn

^b College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China

^c Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

Abstract

Energy is an indispensable component in the development of modern society. Nanostructured transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have recently emerged as versatile and efficient catalysts in the fields of clean production of fossil fuels, renewable energies, and energy storage technologies. In this review, popular strategies to fabricate TMPs are initially summarized. Then, we present the diverse applications of TMPs as active catalysts in thermocatalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and energy storage techniques, with special emphasis on the dependence of reaction activities on the features of TMPs. Throughout the various applications of TMPs, it can be inferred that TMPs themselves play key roles in some cases. While in other cases, it is the synergistic effect of surface oxidation and intrinsic TMPs that is responsible for the high reaction performances. At last, the future perspectives of TMPs are pointed out.

Article information

https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE02577A

Article type

Review Article

Submitted

12 Aug 2020

Accepted

05 Oct 2020

First published

05 Oct 2020

Download Citation

Energy Environ. Sci., 2020,13, 4564-4582

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