Intermetallic compounds for nitrogen electrochemistry

Electrochemical nitrogen transformation techniques represent a burgeoning avenue for nitrogen pollutant remediation and synthesizing valuable nitrogenous products from atmospheric nitrogen. Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) nanocrystals, featured with unique geometric, electronic and functional properties, have emerged as promising candidates. The review discusses various synthesis approaches for IMCs, including thermal annealing, wet chemical synthesis, electrochemical synthesis, and other emerging methods, analyzing their advantages and limitations. Then we summarized the recent advances of IMCs in electrocatalytic nitrogen transformation reactions, such as nitrate reduction reaction, nitric oxide reduction reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, and hydrazine oxidation reaction. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in the field, particularly in adopting more refined strategies to improve catalyst performance and stability. This review aims to comprehensively understand the structural properties of IMCs and their structure-performance relationship, guiding the development of more efficient and stable catalysts for future nitrogen electrochemistry. Electrochemical nitrogen transformation techniques represent a burgeoning avenue for rectifying nitrogen pollutants remediation and synthesizing value-added nitrogenous products. Intermetallic compounds, featuring unique geometric, electronic and functional properties, have emerged as promising candidates. • Comprehensive elucidation of the synthesis approaches and physical properties of IMCs. We critically discuss various synthesis strategies for IMCs, including thermal annealing, wet chemical synthesis, electrochemical synthesis, and other emerging methods, analyzing their advantages and limitations. The unique geometric electronic and functional properties of IMCs are also comprehensively summarized. • First review that focuses on the application of IMCs on electrochemical nitrogen transformation reactions. We critically assess and summarize the application of IMCs in electrocatalytic nitrogen transformation reactions, including nitrate reduction reaction, nitric oxide reduction reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, and hydrazine oxidation reaction. • Effective strategies to guide the smart design of IMCs towards electrocatalytic applications. Based on careful analysis of the intrinsic properties of IMCs, we provide a series of effective strategies to boost the performance of IMCs towards electrocatalytic applications.