title: Hierarchically Structured Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Energy Conversion.
abstract: Hierarchical nanomaterials are highly suitable as electrocatalysts and electrocatalyst supports in electrochemical energy conversion devices. The intrinsic kinetics of an electrocatalyst are associated with the nanostructure of the active phase and the support, while the overall properties are also affected by the mesostructure. Therefore, both structures need to be controlled. A comparative state-of-the-art review of catalysts and supports is provided along with detailed synthesis methods. To further improve the design of these hierarchical nanomaterials, in-depth research on the effect of materials architecture on reaction and transport kinetics is necessary. Inspiration can be derived from nature, which is full of very effective hierarchical structures. Developing fundamental understanding of how desired properties of biological systems are related to their hierarchical architecture can guide the development of novel catalytic nanomaterials and nature-inspired electrochemical devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and EPSRC Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE (UK). p.trogadas@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trogadas
authors.affiliation: Center for Electrochemical Science and Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616 (USA).
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramani
authors.affiliation: The Electrochemical Energy, Catalysis, and Materials Science Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, 10623 (Germany).
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strasser
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0100 (USA).
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and EPSRC Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE (UK). m.coppens@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marc-Olivier
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Coppens
keywords: Kirkendall effect; electrochemical energy devices; hierarchical materials; hollow nanoparticles; nature-inspired  engineering