Non-metallic catalysts mainly include carbon-based

Non-metallic catalysts mainly include carbon-based catalysts and some boron and phosphorus based catalysts. Typically, carbon-based catalysts have a porous structure and large surface area, which facilitates the exposure of more active sites and provides a rich channel for proton and electron transport. Various oxygen-containing functional groups and some defects on the surface and edge of graphene oxide make it have different electrical properties and catalytic activities. Researchers use various chemical modifications and chemical bonding methods to modify other beneficial components on the surface functional groups of GO to prepare a new type of electrocatalyst. Using graphithinyne as a substrate, the researchers found that single boron and nitrogen atoms doping can reduce CO2 to ethylene. Fewer layers of black phosphorus nanosheets have better activity and selectivity to NRR because of more active sites and weaker HER.

Among the above three types of electrocatalysts, two-dimensional ultra-thin nanosheet structural materials are widely used in the field of catalysis. The characteristics of high specific surface area, a large number of exposed active sites, and non-stacked structure make them have natural catalytic advantages. Two-dimensional single-atom catalysts based on two-dimensional materials have also become a research hotspot in electrocatalysis.