Issue 43, 2020

Recent progress in noble metal nanocluster and single atom electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Hydrogen, a renewable and clean energy carrier, is the best alternative to fossil fuels. Hydrogen evolution from water electrolysis using renewable electrical energy is quite attractive. Noble-metal-based materials are currently considered the best electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode of electrolysis cells. Noble metal nanocluster and single atom electrocatalysts as model materials with an ultra-small size and high atomic utilization have shown promising catalytic HER performance. In this paper, recent research efforts toward developing advanced noble metal nanocluster and single atom electrocatalysts supported on different support materials with high performance for water splitting catalysis are reviewed and analyzed in terms of their design, synthesis, characterization, catalytic mechanisms, and HER performance validation and optimization. The technical challenges in researching and developing such nanocluster and single atom HER electrocatalysts are discussed and future research directions are also proposed for overcoming the challenges toward their practical application.

Graphical abstract: Recent progress in noble metal nanocluster and single atom electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
16 juil. 2020
Accepted
11 sept. 2020
First published
07 oct. 2020

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020,8, 22467-22487

Recent progress in noble metal nanocluster and single atom electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

J. Cai, R. Javed, D. Ye, H. Zhao and J. Zhang, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8, 22467 DOI: 10.1039/D0TA06942F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements