Visible-light-assisted synthesis regulates the structure–activity relationship of nanocatalysts for practical direct liquid fuel cell application

Abstract

Direct liquid fuel cells (DLFCs) are among the promising energy conversion devices in terms of high energy conversion, low acoustic pollution, wide fuel range, and convenient transportation and storage. Multimetallic nanocatalysts serve as promising electrocatalysts for practical DLFCs owing to their bifunctional mechanisms, electronic/strain effects, and synergistic effects, which result in optimal binding affinity for adsorbates, promote charge transfer, reduce the binding of intermediates, and overcome CO resistance. The visible-light-assisted method, which is particularly facile with low cost and strong versatility, is a highly adaptable solution for crafting multimetallic nanostructures with adjustable composition and morphology. Considering the cost-effectiveness of this method, this review provides an overview of the latest advancements in the application of DLFCs for the synthesis of multimetallic nanostructures. This review briefly summarizes the operation of DLFCs and the oxidation mechanism of various small-molecule organic fuels, which fills the research gap in liquid fuel mechanisms. Subsequently, after providing an overview of the equipment and technical principles of visible-light-assisted synthesis, multimetallic nanostructures prepared via visible-light-assisted fabrication, which include single-atom structures, nanorods, heterostructures, nanoprisms, and nanoparticles, are introduced. The applications of light-assisted synthesis of nanostructures in practical DLFCs are highlighted, which focus on and present, for the first time, a summary of the development and application of this method in the field of practical DLFCs, extending photochemistry to the field of electrochemistry. Finally, the obstacles and development prospects of visible-light-assisted methods for the synthesis of multi-metallic nanostructured catalysts are discussed, providing a broader scientific perspective for researchers.