Ferroelectric Catalysts in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: A Perspective

Hydrogen, as a clean and sustainable energy carrier, is currently predominantly produced by electrocatalytic water splitting, which relies on traditional precious-metal-based catalysts. The use of non-precious-metal-based catalysts to promote water splitting driven by renewable energy is gradually gaining favor. Recently, ferroelectric (FE) materials have attracted extensive attention in various catalytic reactions owing to their spontaneous polarization. As a model system with relatively simple reaction pathways, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) facilitates a deeper understanding of the role of polarization in catalytic mechanisms. This perspective highlights recent advances and conceptual developments in FE catalysts for the HER. First, we introduce the fundamental mechanisms of the HER and ferroelectricity. Second, based on structural design, FE catalysts are classified into single-phase FE catalysts, single-atom modified FE catalysts, FE heterostructure catalysts, and other engineered FE catalysts, and examples of research on each class of FE catalyst for the HER are discussed. Finally, prospects for the future development of FE catalysts for the HER are discussed from the perspectives of intrinsic FE metals, unconventional FE systems, and the coupling of spin with other physical properties. We hope this perspective will provide new insights and research references for exploring FE catalysts for the HER.