Issue 12, 2023

2D noble metals: growth peculiarities and prospects for hydrogen evolution reaction catalysis

Abstract

High-performance electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction are of interest in the development of next-generation sustainable hydrogen production systems. Although expensive platinum-group metals have been recognized as the most effective HER catalysts, there is an ongoing requirement for the discovery of cost-effective electrode materials. This paper reveals the prospects of two-dimensional (2D) noble metals, possessing a large surface area and a high density of active sites available for hydrogen proton adsorption, as promising catalytic materials for water splitting. An overview of the synthesis techniques is given. The advantages of wet chemistry approaches for the growth of 2D metals over deposition techniques show the potential for kinetic control that is required as a precondition to prevent isotropic growth. An uncontrolled presence of surfactant-related chemicals on a 2D metal surface is however the main disadvantage of kinetically controlled growth methods, which stimulates the development of surfactant-free synthesis approaches, especially template-assisted 2D metal growth on non-metallic substrates. Recent advances in the growth of 2D metals using a graphenized SiC platform are discussed. The existing works in the field of practical application of 2D noble metals for hydrogen evolution reaction are analyzed. This paper shows the technological viability of the “2D noble metals” concept for designing electrochemical electrodes and their implementation into future hydrogen production systems, thereby providing an inspirational background for further experimental and theoretical studies.

Graphical abstract: 2D noble metals: growth peculiarities and prospects for hydrogen evolution reaction catalysis

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
11 ene. 2023
Accepted
23 feb. 2023
First published
23 feb. 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023,25, 8281-8292

2D noble metals: growth peculiarities and prospects for hydrogen evolution reaction catalysis

I. Shtepliuk, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023, 25, 8281 DOI: 10.1039/D3CP00156C

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