Recent developments of transition metal phosphides as catalysts in the energy conversion field

Catalysts play an important role in the energy conversion reaction process. With the continuous development of the energy sector, researchers are constantly exploring and developing new high-performance, inexpensive catalysts to meet the demand. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) as ever-evolving catalytic materials have received more and more attention. Many studies have suggested that transition metal phosphides could be ideal catalysts due to their low cost, abundance, and high efficiency. In many areas, TMPs can be applied as stable and efficient catalytic materials. Therefore, many kinds of TMPs are designed and synthesized by different methods. This article has summarized the recent research progress of TMPs, including their preparation methods and morphologies. Moreover, the application and catalytic performance of TMPs in different catalytic fields are further elaborated, and views on the opportunities and challenges faced by phosphide catalysts are presented. Catalysts play an important role in the energy conversion reaction process.