Conductive Polymer Hydrogel-Derived 3D Nanostructures for Energy and Environmental Electrocatalysis

Renewable energy and advanced water treatment technologies hold profound significance for driving sustainable development in modern society. Given the environmental friendliness and high efficiency of electrocatalysis processes, great expectations are placed on their applications in energy and water-related fields. However, the electrocatalysis is limited by the selectivity, activity, and durability of the electrocatalytic reactions. Hydrogels, with their hierarchical porous structure, compositional and structural tunability, and ease of functionalization, are bringing surprising advances in advanced energy and environment. Hydrogel catalysts, inheriting the advantages of hydrogel materials, hold promise for achieving significant breakthroughs in electrochemical performance. Here, the latest advancements in energy and environmental electrocatalytic fields are summarized based on the 3D nanostructured hydrogel catalysts. In addition, future potentials and challenges of continuing research on hydrogel materials for energy and environment are discussed. This review offers an overview of electrocatalysts derived from conductive polymer hydrogels, highlighting their potential as alternatives to conventional catalysts for energy and environmental challenges. Strategies for regulating these catalysts using advanced characterization techniques are discussed along with future possibilities and challenges related to their synthesis and applications. image