Special-wettability-mediating electrode interfaces for new energy devices: Opportunities and challenges

Electrodes with various gas/liquid/solid-wetting behaviors have received intensive interest, from a view of interface-performance activity, for their applications in energy devices. Surface engineering of electrodes with controlled wetting behaviors offers a novel approach to completely enhance charge transfer and speed up electrochemical reactions in the processes of energy harvesting, storage, and conversion. In this review, we provide a thorough summary of the electrodes with tailored wettabilities, as well as the applications in electrical energy harvesting, electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Special wetting behaviors for electrode design and the interface-performance interacting mechanism are elucidated for improved energy harvesting, storage, and catalysis. Wetting-mediated electrical/electrochemical performance and our insights into existing challenges and future directions are discussed finally. With worldwide efforts, innovations in superwetting interfaces will push forward the frontiers of electrodes with higher performance, which may revolutionize the future power supply. [Display omitted] •A thorough summary of electrodes with tailored special wettability is provided.•The interface-performance interacting mechanism for electrode design are elucidated.•Wetting-mediated performance for energy harvesting, storage, and catalysis are discussed.•Remaining challenges and future directions of the special-wettability tailoring electrodes are proposed.