Electrocatalytic applications of heteroatom-doped carbon nanostructures: thinking beyond PEM fuel cells

Carbon nanostructures have played a vital role in the development of sustainable technologies and greener chemical manufacturing processes. The easily tunable electrical, mechanical and catalytic properties of different forms of heteroatom-doped and undoped carbon-based materials have resulted in significant advancements in the field of electrocatalysis. This chapter highlights the importance of carbon nanostructures in four emerging low temperature electrocatalytic technologies: (i) energy storage in the form of unitized regenerative fuel cells and secondary zinc–air batteries, (ii) electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction, (iii) halogen production using oxygen depolarized cathodes and (iv) direct electrochemical hydrogen peroxide synthesis. Additionally, it summarizes the challenges as well as the progress in the development of carbon-based catalysts for these applications, and understanding electrocatalytic reaction mechanisms while gaining insights into the nature of catalytically active sites which will be useful in a rational catalyst design.