Recent progress of rare earth element electrocatalysts: The critical role of electronic configuration regulation

Abstract The pursuit of high-performance electrocatalysts represents a central theme in the 21th century clean and sustainable chemical engineering and energy science. Among various electrocatalyst candidates, rare earth (RE)-based catalysts have garnered significant research interest due to their unique 4f electronic configurations that determine tunable electronic structure of the catalyst and the reactants’ adsorption/desorption properties. These intrinsic characteristics endow RE materials with remarkable activity and selectivity in a wide range of electrocatalytic processes, positioning them as pivotal components toward the sustainable energy conversion technology deployment. Herein, we systematically summarize recent advances in the development of RE-based electrocatalysts, with emphasis placed on three key aspects: (1) the classification of metals and compounds spanning the mainstream rare elements series; (2) the structural design of RE-based catalysts; and (3) applications across diverse electrocatalysis types. By elucidating the fundamental impact of rare earth elements on catalytic properties and mechanisms, this review aims to guide the development of novel electrocatalysts. Finally, we propose forward-looking research directions, underscoring the role of emerging methodologies in guiding the application of rare earth catalysts in next-generation systems.