Advances in understanding and manipulating electrode wettability for electrocatalytic performance enhancement

In the realm of heterogeneous catalysis, the wettability of the catalyst significantly impacts the interaction between the catalyst surface and reactants or products, thereby playing a pivotal role in determining catalytic performance. Electrocatalytic reactions predominantly occur at multiphase interfaces. As a result, gas-liquid-solid interface mass transfer is of utmost importance during the reaction process. In the electrocatalysis process, for steps including molecular adsorption, desorption, and surface transfer, the modulation of electrode wettability directly influences the behavior of gas bubbles beneath the solution. This affects the gas-liquid-solid interface mass transfer process during electrocatalysis. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the principles governing this interfacial interaction is crucial for fundamentally enhancing the efficiency of electrocatalytic reactions. This review summarizes the basic theory of wettability and its relationship with electrocatalytic reactions. It also accentuates some recent advancements in the impact of electrode wettability in heterogeneous electrocatalytic reactions. Finally, the review offers a perspective on the challenges associated with wettability regulation in influencing the electrocatalytic reaction process. Electrode wettability affects gas-bubble behavior and mass-transfer in electrocatalysis. Understanding this is crucial for efficiency. The review covers wettability theory, its relation to reactions, recent progress, and challenges in wettability regulation.