Recently, Researcher Mu Shichun from the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing at Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) published an important review paper titled “Topological-Defect Carbon for Energy Conversion Applications” in Progress in Materials Science, a top-tier international journal in materials science. This paper systematically summarizes the team’s long-term research on topological-defect carbon materials, providing a comprehensive review and constructive perspectives on their research history, controllable synthesis strategies, advanced characterization methods, catalytic mechanisms, and application prospects in various energy conversion reactions. The paper lists WUT as the sole affiliation, with Gong Lei and Zhu Jiawei as co-first authors, and Mu Shichun as the corresponding author.

Figure 1 Types of topological defects in carbon

As early as 2006, Mu Shichun successfully introduced topological carbon defects into carbon nanotubes using a microwave hydrogen plasma etching method, which significantly enhanced the material's hydrogen storage performance (Carbon 2006, 44, 762-767). In 2019, Researcher Mu's team, for the first time, combined theoretical calculations with experimental validation to demonstrate the critical role of intrinsic pentagonal defects derived from fullerenes. These defects were shown to modulate the electronic structure of carbon materials, thereby enhancing their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and increasing the electric double-layer capacitance. This work provided crucial theoretical and experimental foundations for the targeted design and performance optimization of topological defect carbon catalysts (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 3859). Building on this, in 2024, the team further investigated the intrinsic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of carbon pentagons and their orbital hybridization effects with transition metals (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202411125). As a highly promising class of non-precious metal catalysts, topological defect carbon materials, particularly following the insights consolidated in this review, are expected to attract even broader attention from researchers in materials science, catalytic chemistry, and energy science. It paves the way for the rational design of next-generation high-efficiency, stable, and low-cost carbon-based catalysts. The research was supported by grants such as National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Key Research and Development Program of China.

Progress in Materials Scienceis internationally recognized as a leading authoritative journal in the field of materials science, with a current impact factor of 40. The journal is dedicated to publishing systematic reviews that offer significant impact and forward-looking insights into materials science, renowned for its high academic influence, rigorous peer-review standards, and broad global readership. The publication of this paper is a key outcome of WUT’s “Double First-Class” Initiative in materials science, and it will significantly enhance the international academic profile of our university in materials, chemistry, and related disciplines.

Paper link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2025.101618

Written by: Gong Lei, Huang Linglin

Rewritten by: Li Huihui

Edited by: Li Tiantian

Source: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing