Recent advances in the engineering and electrochemical applications of amorphous-based nanomaterials: A comprehensive review

Phase engineering of the nanomaterials (PEN) strategy has been proposed to tune the structure and properties of nanomaterials, which has significantly broadened the application range of various nanomaterials in different fields. In particular, amorphous nanomaterials with long-range disordered atomic arrangements exhibit better properties than their crystalline counterparts in certain applications. In recent years, the PEN strategy has been successfully applied to synthesize pure amorphous nanomaterials as well as crystalline/amorphous heterophase nanomaterials, leading to significant progress in the synthesis and application of amorphous-based nanomaterials. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the most recent progress in the research of amorphous-based nanomaterials, with a particular focus on their applications in electrocatalysis. Firstly, we present the fundamental synthesis strategies of amorphous-based nanomaterials, with emphasis on the commonly used synthesis methods. Subsequently, we discuss in detail the potential applications of amorphous-based nanomaterials in electrochemical applications, with a focus on understanding the function of amorphous compositions in different applications. This is a crucial step in designing new amorphous nanomaterials and exploring their future applications. Finally, we provide our insights into the prospects and challenges for future research on amorphous-based nanomaterials.