Theoretical and Experimental Validation of Boron Carbide for Electrochemical Energy Applications

Well‐dispersed electrocatalysts on conductive supports are crucial for enhancing electrochemical performance. Boron carbide is an outstanding support material due to its exceptional thermal and chemical stability, along with unique BC bonding. This review covers both theoretical and experimental aspects of boron carbide's advantages in electrochemical applications including water splitting, fuel cells, and supercapacitors. Theoretical studies indicate that boron carbide features CC and BC bonds, lacking BB bonds, which leads to an uneven electronic charge distribution that enhances metal deposition. This strong metal–boron bond improves both stability and electrocatalytic activity. Experimental results show that boron carbide‐supported catalysts, particularly Pt/B 4 C, outperform carbon‐supported ones. The superior activity is attributed to synergistic interactions among boron, carbon, and metals, validated by density functional theory studies. This review summarizes the excellent performance of boron carbides and related phenomena demonstrated in various applications, including hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, oxygen reduction, methanol oxidation, and supercapacitors.