Hybrid Electrocatalysts: Next-Generation Composites for Storing Energy in a Sustainable Way
ATHIRA Suresh, DIVYA Sreetha Murugan, BIJI Pullithadathil
The thrust for effective energy storage and conversion technologies has been fueled by the growing demand for clean and renewable energy sources. There is immense potential for developing these technologies with the help of hybrid electrocatalysts, which are composite materials composed of metals, metal oxides, carbon-based compounds, and polymers. The key electrochemical reactions that are essential for energy storage and fuel cell applications, including the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and CO2 reduction, are improved by these materials. By leveraging the unique characteristics of each component, hybrid electrocatalysts maximize their catalytic efficiency, stability, conductivity and selectivity while minimizing the need for costly or rare elements like platinum. For example, carbon-based materials offer improved electrical conductivity and durability, metals offer high catalytic activity, and metal oxide enhances stability and corrosion resistance. These materials can be combined to generate hybrid electrocatalysts, which can overcome the drawbacks of individual elements and produce more economical and effective fuel cells, supercapacitors, and hydrogen generation systems. Despite the promising advantages of hybrid electrocatalysts, there still exist challenges such as materials scalability cost, and long-term stability. Hybrid electrocatalysts are anticipated to be essential to the creation of efficient and economically feasible sustainable energy storage and conversion technology.
Keywords
Hybrid-Electrocatalyst, Energy Storage, Synergistic Effect, Renewable Energy, Catalyst Stability
Published online 10/20/2025, 13 pages
Citation: ATHIRA Suresh, DIVYA Sreetha Murugan, BIJI Pullithadathil, Hybrid Electrocatalysts: Next-Generation Composites for Storing Energy in a Sustainable Way, Materials Research Foundations, Vol. 182, pp 57-69, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903797-5
Part of the book on Electrocatalysts and Advanced Materials for Sustainable Energy Storage
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