Pt Single Atom-Doped Triphasic VP-Ni3P-MoP Heterostructure: Unveiling a Breakthrough Electrocatalyst for Efficient Water Splitting.

Enhancement of an alkaline water splitting reaction in Pt-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) relies on effective metal-support interactions. A Pt single atom (PtSA)-immobilized three-phased PtSA@VP-Ni3P-MoP heterostructure on nickel foam is presented, demonstrating high catalytic performance. The existence of PtSA on triphasic metal phosphides gives an outstanding performance toward overall water splitting. The PtSA@VP-Ni3P-MoP performs a low overpotential of 28 and 261 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at a current density of 10 and 25 mA cm-2, respectively. The PtSA@VP-Ni3P-MoP (+,-) alkaline electrolyzer achieves a minimum cell voltage of 1.48 V at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 for overall water splitting. Additionally, the electrocatalyst exhibits a substantial Faradaic yield of ≈98.12% for H2 and 98.47% for O2 at a current density of 50 mA cm-2. Consequently, this study establishes a connection for understanding the active role of single metal atoms in substrate configuration for catalytic performance. It also facilitates the successful synthesis of SACs, with a substantial loading on transition metal phosphides and maximal atomic utilization, providing more active sites and, thereby enhancing electrocatalytic activity.

Design of NiCoP nanorod loaded on cocoon carbon substrate and its non-metal doping for efficient hydrogen evolution.

The quest for effective and sustainable electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution is crucial in advancing the widespread use of H2. In this study, we utilized silkworm cocoons as the source material to produce porous N-doped carbon (PNCC) substrates through a process involving degumming and annealing. Subsequently, NiCoP nanorod (NiCoP@PNCC) is deposited onto the substrates via a simple impregnation and calcination method to enhance the catalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The optimal spacing between the silk fibers of PNCC facilitates longitudinal growth, increases the active surface area, and balances the adsorption and desorption of reaction intermediates, thereby accelerating HER kinetics. Consequently, NiCoP@PNCC demonstrates impressive performance, with 44 mV overpotential to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm-2. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the electronic structure and energy band of NiCoP@PNCC can be modified through the doping of elements such as B, C, N, O, F, and S. In addition, with the electronegativity enhancement of the doping elements, the interaction between Co atoms in NiCoP@PNCC and O atoms in adsorbed H2O molecules gradually enhanced, which is conducive to the dissociation of water in alkaline solution. This research introduces a novel approach for fine-tuning the catalytic activity of transition metal phosphides.

Hollow CoP-FeP cubes decorating carbon nanotubes heterostructural electrocatalyst for enhancing the bidirectional conversion of polysulfides in advanced lithium-sulfur batteries.

The sluggish redox reaction kinetics and "shuttle effect" of lithium polysulfides (LPSs) impede the advancement of high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Transition metal phosphides exhibit distinctive polarity, metallic properties, and tunable electron configuration, thereby demonstrating enhanced adsorption and electrocatalytic capabilities towards LPSs. Consequently, they are regarded as exceptional sulfur hosts for LSBs. Moreover, the introduction of a heterogeneous structure can enhance reaction kinetics and expedite the transport of electrons/ions. In this study, a composite of hollow CoP-FeP cubes with heterostructure modified carbon nanotube (CoFeP-CNTs) was fabricated and utilized as sulfur host in advanced LSBs. The presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) facilitates enhanced electron and Li+ transport. Meanwhile, the active sites within the heterogeneous interface of CoP-FeP suppress the "shuttle effect" and enhance the conversion kinetics of LPSs. Therefore, the CoFeP-CNTs/S electrode exhibited exceptional cycling stability and demonstrated a capacity attenuation of merely 0.051 % per cycle over 600 cycles at 1C. This study presents a highly effective tactic for synthesizing dual-acting transition metal phosphides with heterostructure, which will play a pivotal role in advancing the development of efficient LSBs.

Capillary-driven microchip integrated with nickel phosphide hybrid-modified electrode for the electrochemical detection of glucose.

BACKGROUND: Transition metal phosphides with properties similar to platinum metal have received increasing attention for the non-enzymatic detection of glucose. However, the requirement of highly corrosive reagent during sample pretreatment would impose a potential risk to the human body, limiting their practical applications. RESULTS: In this study, we report a self-powered microfluidic device for the non-enzymatic detection of glucose using nickel phosphide (Ni2P) hybrid as the catalyst. The Ni2P hybrid is synthesized by pyrolysis of metal-organic framework (MOF)-based precursor and in-situ phosphating process, showing two linear detection ranges (1 µM-1 mM, 1 mM-6 mM) toward glucose with the detection limit of 0.32 µM. The good performance of Ni2P hybrid for glucose is attributed to the synergistic effect of Ni2P active sites and N-doped porous carbon matrix. The microchip is integrated with a NaOH-loaded paper pad and a capillary-based micropump, enabling the automatic NaOH redissolution and delivery of sample solution into the detection chamber. Under the optimized condition, the Ni2P hybrid-based microchip realized the detection of glucose in a user-friendly way. Besides, the feasibility of using this microchip for glucose detection in real serum samples has also been validated. SIGNIFICANCE: This article presents a facile fabrication method utilizing a MOF template to synthesize a Ni2P hybrid catalyst. By leveraging the synergy between the Ni2P active sites and the N-doped carbon matrix, an exceptional electrochemical detection performance for glucose has been achieved. Additionally, a self-powered chip device has been developed for convenient glucose detection based on the pre-established high pH environment on the chip.

The interfacial synergy of hierarchical FeCoNiP@FeNi-LDH heterojunction for efficient alkaline water splitting.

In response to the growing demand for clean, green, and sustainable energy sources, the development of cost-effective and durable high-activity overall water splitting electrocatalysts is urgently needed. In this study, the heterogeneous structure formed by the combination of FeCoNiP and FeNi-LDH was homogeneously dispersed onto CuO nanowires generated by in-situ oxidation of copper foam as a substrate using an electrodeposition method. This multilevel structure exhibits excellent bifunctional properties as an electrode material in alkaline solutions, for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) only 206 mV and 147 mV overpotentials are needed to achieve a current density of 100 mA cm-2 respectively. Full water electrolysis is thus enabled to take place at such a low cell voltage as 1.64 V to reach the current density of 100 mA cm-2, which exhibits a long-term stability of 30 h. These improved electrocatalytic performances stem from the construction of multilevel structures. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggests that strong electron transfer occurs between heterogeneous structures, thus facilitating the OER and HER process. The dispersion of CuO nanowires not only increases the electrochemically active surface areas but also improves the overall hydrophilic and aerophobic properties. This work highlights the positive effect of multilevel structure in the design of more efficient electrocatalysts and provides a reference for the preparation of other low-cost, high-activity bifunctional electrocatalysts.

Interface engineering of hierarchical flower-like N, P, O-doped NixPy self-supported electrodes for highly efficient water-to-hydrogen fuel/oxygen conversion.

Rational construction of efficient bifunctional catalysts with robust catalytic activity and durability is significant for overall water splitting (conversion between water and hydrogen fuel/oxygen) using non-precious metal systems. In this work, the hierarchically porous N, P, O-doped transition metal phosphate in the Ni foam (NF) electrode (hollow flower-like NPO/NixPy@NF) was prepared through facile hydrothermal method coupled with phosphorization treatment. The hierarchical hollow flower-like NPO/NixPy@NF electrodes exhibited high bifunctional activity and stability for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solutions. The optimized electrode showed low overpotentials of 76 and 240 mV for HER and OER to reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2, respectively. Notably, the NPO/NixPy@NF electrode only required a low voltage of 1.99 V to reach the current densities of 100 mA cm-2 with long-term stability for overall water splitting using the NPO/NixPy@NF|| NPO/NixPy@NF cell, surpassing that of the Pt/C-RuO2 (2.24 V@ 100 mA cm-2). The good catalytic and battery performance should be attributed to i) the open hierarchical structure that enhanced the mass transfer; ii) a highly conductive substrate that accelerated the electron transfer; iii) the rich heterojunction and strong synergy between Ni2P and Ni5P4 that improved the catalytic kinetic; iv) the proper-thickness amorphous phosphorus oxide nitride (PON) shell that realized the stability. This work demonstrates a promising methodology for designing bifunctional transition metal phosphides with high performance for efficient water splitting.

Recent Advancements in Ascribing Several Platinum Free Electrocatalysts Pertinent to Hydrogen Evolution from Water Reduction.

The advancement of a sustainable and scalable catalyst for hydrogen production is crucial for the future of the hydrogen economy. Electrochemical water splitting stands out as a promising pathway for sustainable hydrogen production. However, the development of Pt-free electrocatalysts that match the energy efficiency of Pt while remaining economical poses a significant challenge. This review addresses this challenge by highlighting latest breakthroughs in Pt-free catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Specifically, we delve into the catalytic performance of various transition metal phosphides, metal carbides, metal sulphides, and metal nitrides toward HER. Our discussion emphasizes strategies for enhancing catalytic performance and explores the relationship between structural composition and the performance of different electrocatalysts. Through this comprehensive review, we aim to provide insights into the ongoing efforts to overcome barriers to scalable hydrogen production and pave the way for a sustainable hydrogen economy.

Interfacial Chemistry and Catalysis of Inorganic Materials.

Heterogeneous catalysis is essential to most industrial chemical processes. To achieve a better sustainability of these processes we need highly efficient and highly selective catalysts that are based on earth-abundant materials rather than the more conventional noble metals. Here, we discuss the potential of inorganic materials as catalysts for chemical transformations focusing in particular on the promising transition metal phosphides and sulfides. We describe our recent and current efforts to understand the interfacial chemistry of these materials that governs catalysis, and to tune catalytic reactivity by controlled chemical modification of the material surfaces and by use of interfacial electric fields.

Interface engineering of three-phase nickel-cobalt sulfide/nickel phosphide/iron phosphide heterostructure for enhanced water splitting and urea electrolysis.

Rational designing efficient transition metal-based multifunctional electrocatalysts is highly desirable for improving the efficiency of hydrogen production from water cracking. Herein, a self-supported three-phase heterostructure electrocatalyst of nickel-cobalt sulfide/nickel phosphide/iron phosphide (CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2) was prepared by a two-step gas-phase sulfurization/phosphorization strategy. The heterostructure in CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2 provides a favorable interfacial environment for electron transfer and synergistic interaction of multiphase active components, while the introduced electronegative P/S not only serves as a carrier for proton capture in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process but also promotes the metal-electron outflow, which in turn accelerates the generation of high-valent Ni3+ species to enhance the catalytic activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). As expected, CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2 reveals excellent multifunctional electrocatalytic properties. An overpotential of 35/215 mV is required to reach 10 mA cm-2 for HER/OER. More encouragingly, a current of 100 mA cm-2 requires only 1.36 V for UOR with CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2 as anode, which is much lower as compared to the OER (1.50 V). Besides, a two-electrode water/urea electrolyzer assembled based on CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2 has a voltage of only 1.59/1.48 V when the system reaches 50 mA cm-2. This work provides a new idea for the design of energy-efficient water/urea-assisted water-splitting multifunctional catalysts with multi-component heterostructure synergistic interface engineering.

Optimized Transition Metal Phosphides for Direct Seawater Electrolysis: Current Trends.

Seawater electrolysis presents a viable route for sustainable large-scale hydrogen production, yet its practical application is hindered by several technical challenges. These include the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen evolution, poor stability, cation deposition at the cathode, electrode corrosion, and competing chloride oxidation at the anode. To overcome these obstacles, the development of innovative electrocatalysts is crucial. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have emerged as promising candidates owing to their superior catalytic performance and tunable structural properties. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent progress in the structural engineering of TMPs tailored for efficient seawater electrolysis. We delve into the catalytic mechanisms underpinning hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in different pH conditions, along with the detrimental side reactions that impede hydrogen production efficiency. Several methods to prepare TMPs are then introduced. Additionally, detailed discussions on structural modifications and interface engineering tactics are presented, showcasing strategies to enhance the activity and durability of TMP electrocatalysts. By analyzing current research findings, our review aims to inform ongoing research endeavors and foster advancements in seawater electrolysis for practical and ecologically sound hydrogen generation.

Electrochemical Sensors Based on Transition Metal Materials for Phenolic Compound Detection.

Electrochemical sensors have been recognized as crucial tools for monitoring comprehensive chemical information, especially in the detection of a significant class of molecules known as phenolic compounds. These compounds can be present in water as hazardous analytes and trace contaminants, as well as in living organisms where they regulate their metabolism. The sensitive detection of phenolic compounds requires highly efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts to enable the development of high-performance sensors. Therefore, this review focuses on the development of advanced materials with excellent catalytic activity as alternative electrocatalysts to conventional ones, with a specific emphasis on transition metal-based electrocatalysts for the detection of phenolic compounds. This research is particularly relevant in diverse sectors such as water quality, food safety, and healthcare.

Phosphide-Based Electrocatalysts for Urea Electrolysis: Recent Trends and Progress.

Electrolysis is a trend in producing hydrogen as a fuel for renewable energy development, and urea electrolysis is considered as one of the advanced electrolysis processes, where efficient materials still need to be explored. Notably, urea electrolysis came into existence to counter-part the electrode reactions in water electrolysis, which has hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Among those reactions, OER is sluggish and limits water splitting. Hence, urea electrolysis emerged with urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and HER as their reactions to tackle the water electrolysis. Among the explored materials, noble-metal catalysts are efficient, but their cost and scarcity limit the scaling-up of the Urea electrolysis. Hence, current challenges must be addressed, and novel efficient electrocatalysts are to be implemented to commercialize urea electrolysis technology. Phosphides, as an efficient UOR electrocatalyst, have gained huge attention due to their exceptional lattice structure geometry. The phosphide group benefits the water molecule adsorption and water dissociation, and facilitates the oxyhydrate of the metal site. This review summarizes recent trends in phosphide-based electrocatalysts for urea electrolysis, discusses synthesis strategies and crystal structure relationship with catalytic activity, and presents the challenges of phosphide electrocatalysts in urea electrolysis.

CeO2 for modulating the electronic structure of nickel-cobalt bimetallic phosphides to promote efficient overall water splitting.

The discovery of earth-abundant electrocatalysts to replace platinum and iridium for overall water splitting is a crucial step in reducing the cost of green hydrogen production. Transition metal phosphides have drawn wide attention due to their non-toxicity, good chemical stability, low cost, and stable catalytic activity in alkaline electrolytes. We report a three-dimensional flower-like structure composed of core-shell nanoneedles as catalysts, in which CeO2 is introduced on the surface of nickel cobalt bimetallic phosphide through electrodeposition. And X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy testing and DFT calculations show electron coupling and transfer between CeO2 and CoP3, thereby modulating the electronic structure of the catalyst surface and reducing the adsorption energy of H atoms during the catalytic process, resulting in enhanced catalytic activity. In 1 M KOH, it exhibits a low overpotential of 109 and 296 mV to achieve the current density of 50 mA cm-2 for HER and OER, respectively. When used as both cathode and anode as a bifunctional catalyst, a voltage of only 1.77 V is required to achieve a current density of 50 mA cm-2, demonstrating great industrial potential.

Transition metal phosphides: synthesis nanoarchitectonics, catalytic properties, and biomass conversion applications.

Developing inexpensive and efficient catalysts for biomass hydrogenation or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is essential for efficient energy conversion. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs), with the merits of abundant active sites, unique physicochemical properties, tunable component structures, and excellent catalytic activities, are recognized as promising biomass hydrogenation or HDO catalytic materials. Nevertheless, the biomass hydrogenation or HDO catalytic applications of TMPs are still limited by various complexities and inherent performance bottlenecks, and thus their future development and utilization remain to be systematically sorted out and further explored. This review summarizes the current popular strategies for the preparation of TMPs. Subsequently, based on the structural and electronic properties of TMPs, the catalytic activity origins of TMPs in biomass hydrogenation or HDO is elucidated. Additionally, the application of TMPs in efficient biomass hydrogenation or HDO catalysis, as well as highly targeted multiscale strategies to enhance the catalytic performance of TMPs, are comprehensively described. Finally, large-scale amplification synthesis, rational construction of TMP-based catalysts and in-depth study of the catalytic mechanism are also mentioned as challenges and future directions in this research field. Expectedly, this review can provide professional and targeted guidance for the rational design and practical application of TMPs biomass hydrogenation or HDO catalysts.

Electrodeposition synthesis of cobalt-molybdenum bimetallic phosphide on nickel foam for efficient water splitting.

A reasonable design of excellent bifunctional catalyst is an effective strategy for large-scale hydrogen production. In this study, a two-stage electrodeposition method was used to prepare a crystalline-amorphous structure cobalt molybdenum phosphide layered particles with different sizes on a nickel foam (NF) substrate. Electron rearrangement at the Co/CoMoP2@CoMoO4 heterogeneous interface can reduce the reaction energy barrier for HER and OER, and accelerate the catalytic reaction kinetics. The doping of Mo can promote the synergistic effect between Co and Mo, thereby optimizing the Gibbs free energy of hydrogen adsorption/desorption. This layered arrangement of different size particles greatly improves the active area of the catalyst. In alkaline solution, achieving a current density of 10 mA cm-2 only required overpotentials of 40 mV for HER and 278 mV for OER, respectively. The cell voltage required for the CoMo-P/NF||CoMo-P/NF electrolytic cell is only 1.53 V at 10 mA cm-2. This study provides a reference for the rapid, efficient, and environmentally friendly preparation of high-activity water splitting catalysts with large surface areas.

Copper Phosphide Nanostructures Covalently Modified Ti3 C2 Tx for Fast Lithium-Ion Storage by Enhanced Kinetics and Pesudocapacitance.

2D layer Ti3 C2 Tx material attracts enormous attention in lithium ion energy storage field owing to the unique surface chemistry properties, but the material still suffers from restacking issue and the restriction on capacity. Herein, copper phosphide (Cu3 P) nanostructures@Ti3 C2 Tx composites are prepared by the in situ generation of Cu-BDC precursor in the bulk material followed with phosphorization. The uniformly distributed copper phosphide nanostructures effectively expand the interlayer spacing promoting the structural stability, and achieves the effective connection with the bulk material accelerating the diffusion and migration of lithium ions. The electrochemical activity of Cu3 P also provides more lithium ion active sites for lithium storage. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis verifies that Ti─O─P bond with strong covalency allows the upper shift of maximum valence band and Fermi level, stimulating the charge transportation between Cu3 P and the bulk Ti3 C2 Tx for better electrode kinetics. 3Cu3 P@Ti3 C2 Tx exhibits excellent rate performance of 165.4 mAh g-1 at 3000 mA g-1 and the assembled 3Cu3 P@Ti3 C2 Tx //AC Lithium-ion hybrid capacitorsLIC exhibits superior energy density of 93.0 Wh kg-1 at the power density of 2367.3 W kg-1 . The results suggest that the interfacial modification of Ti3 C2 Tx with transition metal phosphides will be advantageous to its high energy density application in lithium-ion storage.

CoP/Co heterojunction on porous g-C3N4 nanosheets as a highly efficient catalyst for hydrogen generation.

Designing non-precious catalysts to synergistically achieve a facilitated exposure of abundant active sites is highly desired but remains a significant challenge. Herein, a hetero-structured catalyst CoP-Co supported on porous g-C3N4 nanosheets (CoP-Co/CN-I) was prepared by pyrolysis and P-inducing strategy. The optimal catalyst achieves a turnover frequency (TOF) of 26 min-1 at room temperature and the apparent activation energy (Ea) is 35.5 kJ·mol-1. The catalytic activity is ranked top among the non-precious metal phosphides or the other supports. Meanwhile, the catalytic activity has no significant decrease even after 5 cycles. The CoP/Co interfaces provide richly exposed active sites, optimize hydrogen/water absorption free energy via electronic coupling, and thus improve the catalytic activity. The experimental results reveal that the CoP/Co heterojunction improves the catalytic activity due to the construction of dual-active sites. This research facilitates the innovative construction of non-noble metal catalysts to meet industrial demand for heterogeneous catalysis.

A Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Strategy for Constructing Synergistic N-Doped Carbon-Encapsulated NiCoP@N-C-Based Anodes toward High-Efficient Lithium Storage.

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have been regarded as the prospective anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, their poor intrinsic conductivity and inevitable large volume variation result in sluggish redox kinetics and the collapse of electrode structure during cycling, which substantially hinders their practical use. Herein, an effective composite electrodes design strategy of "assembly and phosphorization" is proposed to construct synergistic N-doped carbon-encapsulated NiCoP@N-C-based composites, employing a metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as sacrificial hosts. Serving as the anodes for LIBs, one representative P-NCP-NC-600 electrode exhibits high reversible capacity (858.5 mAh g-1, 120 cycles at 0.1 A g-1) and superior long-cycle stability (608.7 mAh g-1, 500 cycles at 1 A g-1). The impressive performances are credited to the synergistic effect between its unique composite structure, electronic properties and ideal composition, which achieve plentiful lithium storage sites and reinforce the structural architecture. By accompanying experimental investigations with theoretical calculations, a deep understanding in the lithium storage mechanism is achieved. Furthermore, it is revealed that a more ideal synergistic effect between NiCoP components and N-doped carbon frameworks is fundamentally responsible for the realization of superb lithium storage properties. This strategy proposes certain instructive significance toward designable high-performance TMP-based anodes for high-energy density LIBs.

Peapod-Like Structured B/N Co-Doped Carbon Nanotube Array Encapsulating MxPy (M = Fe, Co, and Ni) Nanoparticles for High-Rate Potassium Storage.

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have become the desirable alternatives for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) originating from abundant reserves and appropriate redox potential, while the considerable radius size of K+ leading to poor reaction kinetics and huge volume expansion limits the practical application of PIBs. Hybridization of transition-metal phosphides and carbon substrates can effectively optimize the obstacles of poor conductivity, sluggish kinetics, and huge volume variation. Thus, the peapod-like structural MxPy@BNCNTs (M = Fe, Co, and Ni) composites as anode materials for PIBs were synthesized through a facile strategy. Notably, the unique architecture of B/N codoped carbon nanotube array as fast ion/electron transfer pathways effectively improves the electronic conductivity of composites. The MxPy nanoparticles (NPs) are encapsulated in BNCNTs with an amorphous carbon layer (5-10 nm), which discernibly alleviate the volume changes during potassiation/depotassiation. In conclusion, the composites show a commendable cycling performance, possessing reversible capacities of 111, 152, and 122 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles at 1.0 A g-1 with a negligible capacity loss for FeP@BNCNT, CoP/Co2P@BNCNT, and Ni2P@BNCNT electrodes, respectively. Especially, after 1000 cycles at 2.0 A g-1, the CoP/Co2P@BNCNT electrode still possesses a capacity of 87.9 mA h g-1, demonstrating excellent rate performance and long-term life. This work may offer an innovative and viable route to construct a stable architecture for solving the issue of poor stability of TMP-based anodes at a high current density.

Transition Metal Phosphides: The Rising Star of Lithium-Sulfur Battery Cathode Host.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) with ultra-high energy density (2600 W h kg-1 ) and readily available raw materials are emerging as a potential alternative device with low cost for lithium-ion batteries. However, the insulation of sulfur and the unavoidable shuttle effect leads to slow reaction kinetics of LSBs, which in turn cause various roadblocks including poor rate capability, inferior cycling stability, and low coulombic efficiency. The most effective way to solve the issues mentioned above is to rationally design and control the synthesis of the cathode host for LSBs. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) with good electrical conductivity and dual adsorption-conversion capabilities for polysulfide (PS) are regarded as promising cathode hosts for new-generation LSBs. In this review, the main obstacles to commercializing the LSBs and the development processes of their cathode host are first elaborated. Then, the sulfur fixation principles, and synthesis methods of the TMPs are briefly summarized and the recent progress of TMPs in LSBs is reviewed in detail. Finally, a perspective on the future research directions of LSBs is provided.