Large-Scale Nanofiber Manufacturing| Surface and Interface Engineering of Electrospun Nanofibersfor Heterogeneous Catalysts

Dr. Yue Guichu (IMUT) & Prof. Zhao Yong (BUAA): Surface and Interface Engineering of Electrospun Fiber Heterogeneous Catalysts

Surfaces and interfaces originate most material functionalities. Typical heterogeneous catalytic processes occur at phase boundaries - gas-solid, gas-liquid-solid, or even complex oil-water-gas-solid interfaces. Thus, catalyst surface/interface properties directly determine performance by altering reaction pathways or reducing activation energy. Engineering catalyst surfaces/interfaces across micro/meso/macro scales can enhance activity, selectivity, and stability.1D heterogeneous catalysts possess high aspect ratios and unique long-range electron transport, granting distinctive catalytic advantages. Among 1D nanomaterial fabrication methods, electrospinning provides cross-scale flexibility for structural design and performance regulation.

Recently, Dr. Yue Guichu (Inner Mongolia University of Technology) and Prof. Zhao Yong (Beihang University) reviewed surface/interface engineering of 1D heterogeneous catalysts. They systematically summarized progress in electrospun fiber-based catalysts according to multiscale regulation strategies: defect engineering (vacancies, doping) at microscale, heterojunction construction at mesoscale, and wettability control at macroscale. These engineered catalysts show broad applications in hydrogenation, OER, CO2RR, NO3-RR, and pollutant degradation.

Fig. 1 Summary and prospects of surface and interface engineering for 1D heterogeneous catalysts based on electrospun fibers.

While summarizing advances, the authors highlighted challenges:
(1) Addressing fiber formation failures from whipping instability, batch variations from environmental fluctuations; improving specific surface area and mechanical strength; enhancing production via needleless/air-assisted electrospinning while mitigating solvent-related pollution.
(2) Pursuing "precision catalysis" through rational design (defect control, hydrophobic/hydrophilic patterning) and combining interface strategies to enable tandem "one-pot" reactions following green chemistry principles.

Published in Small Methods as "Surface and Interface Engineering of Electrospun Nanofibers for Heterogeneous Catalysts", with Dr. Yue as first/corresponding author and Prof. Zhao as corresponding author.