Strain Engineering in Electrocatalytic Systems

Strain engineering involves the deliberate introduction of mechanical deformation into electrocatalyst materials to modify their atomic spacing and electronic properties. By imposing compressive or tensile strain on catalyst surfaces, researchers can tune the energy levels of valence d-orbitals, alter adsorption energies of reaction intermediates and accelerate key steps in reactions such as the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction. Techniques range from thermal expansion and phase-boundary design to epitaxial mismatch in core–shell structures and mechanical bending of thin films. The controlled distortion of atomic lattices enables lower overpotentials, higher turnover frequencies and enhanced stability, supporting more efficient water splitting, fuel‐cell oxygen reduction and sustainable hydrogen production. Advances in in situ characterisation and theory have deepened understanding of how spatially resolved strain patterns correlate with catalytic performance, paving the way for rational catalyst design in renewable-energy technologies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated the dynamic tuning of electrocatalytic activity through real-time control of lattice strain. In one system, anisotropic thermal expansion in a layered iridate catalyst generates adjustable compressive strain on IrO₆ octahedra, downshifting the d-band centre and markedly accelerating oxygen evolution kinetics beyond what conventional thermal diffusion achieves. Another advance employs ultrathin noble-metal nanosheets with engineered amorphous–crystalline boundaries that impose about 4 % tensile strain at their surfaces, boosting intrinsic hydrogen evolution rates by more than fourfold relative to benchmark platinum catalysts. At the atomic scale, three-dimensional tomography of core–shell palladium–platinum nanoparticles has revealed anisotropic strain distributions directly linked to oxygen reduction activity, offering precise maps of surface–interface strain correlations that inform the design of next-generation fuel-cell catalysts.

Strain Engineering in Electrocatalytic Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in strain engineering in electrocatalytic systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Strain engineering: The purposeful induction of lattice deformation in materials to modify electronic structure and catalytic behaviour.

d-band centre: The weighted average energy of d-orbital electrons in transition metals, governing adsorption strength of reactants.

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER): The anodic half-reaction in water splitting where water molecules are oxidised to release oxygen and protons.

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER): The cathodic half-reaction in water splitting where protons and electrons combine to form molecular hydrogen.

Lattice mismatch: The difference in interplanar spacing between two adjoining crystal phases, producing interfacial strain.

References

1. Local tetragonal distortion of Pt alloy catalysts for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction efficiency. Carbon Energy (2024).
2. Continuous strain tuning of oxygen evolution catalysts with anisotropic thermal expansion. Nature Communications (2024).
3. In-plane strain engineering in ultrathin noble metal nanosheets boosts the intrinsic electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. Nature Communications (2022).
4. Direct strain correlations at the single-atom level in three-dimensional core-shell interface structures. Nature Communications (2022).
5. Enhancing the Performance of Bi2S3 in Electrocatalytic and Supercapacitor Applications by Controlling Lattice Strain. Advanced Functional Materials (2022).
6. In Situ Induction of Strain in Iron Phosphide (FeP2) Catalyst for Enhanced Hydroxide Adsorption and Water Oxidation. Advanced Functional Materials (2020).