Electrocatalytic Performance of Nanostructured Metal Nanosheets

In recent years, two-dimensional metal nanosheets have emerged as a leading class of electrocatalysts owing to their atomic thickness, high density of active sites and tunable electronic properties. Their ultrathin geometry minimises diffusion paths for reactants and electrons, while maximising the electrochemically active surface area. These features translate into superior performance in key electrochemical reactions such as the oxygen reduction reaction, hydrogen evolution and formic acid oxidation. Synthetic routes span top-down exfoliation of layered precursors and bottom-up wet-chemical and templated approaches, enabling precise control of thickness, lateral dimensions and surface facets. Notable strategies include topotactic reduction to preserve crystallinity, surfactant-mediated facet regulation and phase engineering to tailor amorphous–crystalline heterostructures. The resulting nanosheets offer enhanced mass and specific activities, reduced overpotentials and improved stability compared with conventional nanoparticles. Their global significance is underlined by applications in fuel cells, metal–air batteries, water splitting and fine chemical production. Ongoing challenges include large-scale synthesis, long-term durability under operating conditions and integration with conductive supports to further boost electron transport.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated transformative improvements in platinum nanosheet catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. Ultrathin double-layer platinum nanosheets, synthesised via topotactic reduction of oxide precursors, achieve thicknesses of approximately 0.5 nm and display an electrochemically active surface area exceeding 120 m² g⁻¹. This architecture delivers more than twice the ORR activity of conventional 3 nm platinum nanoparticles while significantly reducing precious metal loading. The retention of single-crystallinity and controlled interlayer spacing play critical roles in optimising electron transfer and reactant accessibility, paving the way for more efficient and durable fuel-cell cathodes.

Electrocatalytic Performance of Nanostructured Metal Nanosheets publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrocatalytic performance of nanostructured metal nanosheets across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electrocatalysis: Catalytic processes at an electrode surface involving electron transfer reactions.

Nanosheet: A two-dimensional nanomaterial with atomic or few-atom thickness and extended lateral dimensions.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR): The electrochemical conversion of oxygen to water or hydroxide ions, a pivotal step in fuel cells.

Electrochemically active surface area (ECSA): The real surface area of a catalyst accessible for electrochemical reactions.

Overpotential: The extra potential required beyond the thermodynamic equilibrium to drive an electrochemical reaction at a given rate.

References

1. Platinum nanosheets synthesized via topotactic reduction of single-layer platinum oxide nanosheets for electrocatalysis. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Thin metal nanostructures: synthesis, properties and applications. Chemical Science (2015).
3. Ultrathin palladium nanosheets with selectively controlled surface facets. Chemical Science (2018).
4. Aging amorphous/crystalline heterophase PdCu nanosheets for catalytic reactions. National Science Review (2019).
5. Wet-chemical synthesis of two-dimensional metal nanomaterials for electrocatalysis. National Science Review (2021).