Preface
vii
Electrocatalysis plays a central in electrochemical energy conversion. This Topical
Collection aims to cover recent progress and trends in advanced electrocatalysts for
various electrocatalytic reactions. It includes 6 contributions covering electrooxidation
of ethanol (Marinkovic & Adzic et al.), urea (Ye & Wang et al.), and other small
molecules (Farias & Feliu), CO 2 electrochemical reduction (Chen & Jiao et al.),
single atom-based electrocatalysts (Li & Shao et al.), and bioelectrocatalysis (Hickey
& Minteer et al.).
In their contribution, Marinkovic & Adzic et al. presented recent achievements
towards developing Pt-based electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction and
understanding the rationale behind the low selectivity towards CO 2 production. Ye
& Wang et al. overviewed the reaction mechanisms of urea oxidation in different
electrolytes and the recent advances in the development of electrocatalysts for this
reaction. Farias & Feliu summarized recent works on identification of real active
sites in electrocatalytic reactions such as electro-oxidation of CO, methanol, and
ammonia on Pt surfaces. Electrochemical reduction of CO 2 has attracted much
attention. Chen & Jiao et al. summarized recent literature on the topic of bimetallic
electrocatalysts for CO 2 reduction in their contribution. Tuning the properties of a
bimetallic catalyst could result in a wide range of products, including carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons, carboxylate and liquid oxygenates. Dispersive metal single-atoms in
carbon nanomaterials are promising electrocatalysts for electrochemical energy
conversion reactions. Li and Shao et al. highlighted the advanced synthetic methods,
characterization techniques and electrochemical applications of carbon-based
single-atom metal catalysts for O 2 reduction, water splitting, and other emerging
reactions including CO 2 reduction, H 2 O 2 production, and N 2 reduction. Hickey &
Minteer et al. introduced the lessons that can be learned from in vivo enzymatic
pathways and novel enzymatic pathways that have been developed for synthetic
biology of electrochemical energy production and conversion. They also discuss the
recent bio-inspired developments to utilize catalytic cascades for non-biological
applications ranging from energy conversion to biosensing and the electrochemical
production of important chemicals.
vii
Electrocatalysis plays a central in electrochemical energy conversion. This Topical
Collection aims to cover recent progress and trends in advanced electrocatalysts for
various electrocatalytic reactions. It includes 6 contributions covering electrooxidation
of ethanol (Marinkovic & Adzic et al.), urea (Ye & Wang et al.), and other small
molecules (Farias & Feliu), CO 2 electrochemical reduction (Chen & Jiao et al.),
single atom-based electrocatalysts (Li & Shao et al.), and bioelectrocatalysis (Hickey
& Minteer et al.).
In their contribution, Marinkovic & Adzic et al. presented recent achievements
towards developing Pt-based electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction and
understanding the rationale behind the low selectivity towards CO 2 production. Ye
& Wang et al. overviewed the reaction mechanisms of urea oxidation in different
electrolytes and the recent advances in the development of electrocatalysts for this
reaction. Farias & Feliu summarized recent works on identification of real active
sites in electrocatalytic reactions such as electro-oxidation of CO, methanol, and
ammonia on Pt surfaces. Electrochemical reduction of CO 2 has attracted much
attention. Chen & Jiao et al. summarized recent literature on the topic of bimetallic
electrocatalysts for CO 2 reduction in their contribution. Tuning the properties of a
bimetallic catalyst could result in a wide range of products, including carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons, carboxylate and liquid oxygenates. Dispersive metal single-atoms in
carbon nanomaterials are promising electrocatalysts for electrochemical energy
conversion reactions. Li and Shao et al. highlighted the advanced synthetic methods,
characterization techniques and electrochemical applications of carbon-based
single-atom metal catalysts for O 2 reduction, water splitting, and other emerging
reactions including CO 2 reduction, H 2 O 2 production, and N 2 reduction. Hickey &
Minteer et al. introduced the lessons that can be learned from in vivo enzymatic
pathways and novel enzymatic pathways that have been developed for synthetic
biology of electrochemical energy production and conversion. They also discuss the
recent bio-inspired developments to utilize catalytic cascades for non-biological
applications ranging from energy conversion to biosensing and the electrochemical
production of important chemicals.