Are Topological Insulators Active in Electrocatalytic Reactions?

Topological insulators (TIs) have emerged as a new exotic group of solid‐state materials with exciting properties linked to their distinct electronic structure. Among the main areas of application are research on spintronic devices and as hosts of special superconducting phases. A more curious application considers TIs as catalysts in gas phase or electrochemical reactions, either in their own right or in combination with a metal such as Au. This is also the topic of the research in this VILLUM Experiment. Despite reports about favorable catalytic properties e.g. for water splitting electrolysis, a direct link between a TI’s electronic structure and catalysis has not been established. Here we will use state‐of‐the‐art experimental characterization based on electronic band‐structure mapping and electrocatalysis measurements to explore if the special surface properties of TIs are functional in electrocatalysis.