Rare earth-based nanomaterials in electrocatalysis

The positioning and incomplete filling of 4f electrons give rare earths unique physicochemical properties, giving them great potential in electrocatalysis. The rare earth-based catalysts can effectively control the bonding between intermediates and metal active sites during electrocatalytic reactions. Meanwhile, the electron orbital structure of rare earths exhibits excellent electron transport ability, which can reduce the energy barrier of reaction speed control step and the band gap value, and further accelerate the electron transfer in the process of electrocatalytic reaction. In this review, we summarize the preparation methods of rare earth-based nanomaterials, and discuss the application of rare earth-based nanomaterials in electrocatalysis including oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), and further discusses the catalytical mechanisms in rare earth. Through the summary of present progress in the application of rare earth-based nanomaterials in electrocatalytic reaction, this review provides a reasonable prospect on the rare earth-based nanomaterials in electrocatalysis.