Advanced catalysis for efficient hydrogen production

Hydrogen energy, characterized by its cleanliness, high energy density, and zero carbon dioxide emissions, is increasingly recognized as a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels. From this perspective, the highly efficient generation of hydrogen is of paramount importance for mitigating the urgent global energy shortage and environmental challenges. In contrast to conventional fossil fuel-based hydrogen production methods, advanced catalytic technologies that generate hydrogen from water or other renewable resources offer environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives. In this context, this review exclusively examines the fundamental principles of representative catalytic hydrogen production technologies, encompassing electrocatalytic, piezocatalytic, pyrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and their synergistic catalytic methods at first. Secondly, the latest advancements in the above-mentioned catalytic hydrogen evolution pathways are scrutinized from the perspectives of material composition, structure designs, and hydrogen generation yields. Finally, a comprehensive summary and future outlook for the advancement and practical applications of catalytic hydrogen production technologies are provided. This in-depth review aims to offer both theoretical insights and experimental guidance to researchers in the fields of catalysis, environmental science, energy research, and related areas.