Mini Review on Innovative Metal-Based Electrocatalysts for Sustainable Hydrogen Production through Water Splitting

The rising global demand for fossil fuels, together with the consequent pollution, has generated substantial environmental issues over energy generation. Hydrogen, as a clean and sustainable energy source, is positioned to be essential in tackling these difficulties both presently and in the future. Water splitting is an effective and promising technique for hydrogen synthesis, with catalysts playing a vital role in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as shown in figure 1. Platinum (Pt) has exceptional efficacy in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysis, marked by a minimal overpotential approaching zero and a Tafel slope of roughly 30 mV dec⁻¹. The principal barrier to the extensive use of hydrogen production is the advancement of economical and efficient catalysts. Transition metal complexes, recognized for their electrocatalytic efficacy and electrochemical robustness, have surfaced as prime candidates for hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysis. This work seeks to examine the present state and recent progress in the design and development of nanostructured electrocatalysts for noble and non-noble metals in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). Principal methods to improve hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance encompass doping, crystallization regulation, structural modification, integration of carbon nanomaterials, and morphological alteration to increase active sites. This study will examine the challenges and potential opportunities in the development of functional and stable electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen production via water-splitting electrolysis.