Pulsed Electrocatalysis: A Potential Strategy for Regulating the Heterogeneous Electrocatalytic Reduction Reaction

Abstract Electrocatalytic process plays a crucial role in the research and development of sustainable energy and environmental issues. Efficient electrocatalysis can be achieved by optimizing the catalyst, electrolyte, and electrolyzer under constant potential electrolysis conditions. However, these modulation strategies in catalyst designing and device engineering are usually subject to a complex and laborious process. Fortunately, dynamically tunable pulsed electrocatalysis offers a simple and flexible strategy to improve the activity, selectivity, and stability of electrocatalysts, which provides an opportunity to affect the electrocatalysis process dynamically by utilizing potential control. However, the research on pulsed electrocatalysis is still in its infancy, and its regulatory mechanism exists controversial and problematic research challenges. Hence, it's necessary to comprehensively understand the influence of pulsed electrocatalysis on specific catalytic reactions, so as to provide corresponding theoretical guidance for improving the efficiency of electrocatalysis. Here, we summarize the latest findings based on pulsed electrocatalysis strategies in the field of electrocatalysis. We highlight the process achieved of pulsed electrocatalysis on electrochemical processes in terms of regulation mechanisms and characterization techniques. In conclusion, this review provides valuable insights for a systematic understanding of the role of pulsed electrocatalysis in electrochemical modulation and hopes to stimulate new thinking in future studies.