Recent advances in transition metal-based electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution

Abstract

With the increasing demands in energy consumption and increasing environmental concerns, it is of vital significance for developing renewable and clean energy sources to substitute traditional fossil fuels. As an outstanding candidate, hydrogen is recognized as a green energy carrier due to its high gravimetric energy density, zero carbon footprints, and earth-abundance. Currently, water splitting in alkaline electrolytes represents one of the most promising methods for sustainable hydrogen production, and the key challenge lies in the development of high-performance electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Given the rapid advances in the design and development of efficient catalysts towards the alkaline HER, especially capable transition metal (TM)-based materials, this review aims to summarise recent progress in the theoretical understanding of the alkaline HER and TM-based electrocatalysts. TM-based catalysts classified by their different anionic compositions (metals, alloys, oxides, hydroxides, sulfides, selenides, tellurides, nitrides, phosphides, carbides, and borides) are comprehensively showcased. Special attention is given to mainstream strategies that can improve the catalytic properties of each category, as well as the underlying structure–activity regimes. Additionally, the challenges for the future development of novel catalysts are also analyzed.