Metal nanoparticles doped self-assembled peptide bolaamphiphile hydrogels as electrocatalysts for energy conversion and electrosynthesis

Abstract

The energy crisis is unquestionably one of the biggest challenges for creating a sustainable society in the 21st century. The economic prosperity and social development of the modern world depend heavily on sustainable and renewable energy resources. However, the widespread use of non-renewable fossil fuels has resulted global concern for energy shortage. Additionally, continuous carbon emissions contribute to worsening environmental issues. In order to meet the demand for power, scientists are focusing on clean and renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, and hydropower. However, the intermittent nature and low efficiency of power generation from these sources have hindered their progress in replacing fossil fuels. Therefore, there is an immediate need for reliable, clean, and affordable energy sources. Nanomaterials, which have a higher number of catalytic active sites and enhanced diffusion kinetics compared to bulk materials, and have therefore been utilized in advanced energy systems. Recently, self-assembled peptide nanomaterials have gained tremendous interest due to their unique porous framework, high mechanical properties, ease of synthesis, and ability to be composed in different ways. These peptide nanomaterials have exceptional features, including a high surface area, low density, and three-dimensional network structure, which make them capable of hosting various metal-doped nanostructures within their porous architectures, thus arousing significant interest in electrocatalysis.