Hydrogen production from water electrolysis: role of catalysts

• Published in: Nano convergence 2021, 8(4), , pp.1-23
• Main Authors: Wang, Shan, Lu, Aolin, Zhong, Chuan-Jian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Chemistry and Materials Science; Clean energy; Electrocatalysts; Electrolysis; Energy conversion; Energy storage; Energy storage and conversion; Fossil fuels; Hydrogen; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Hydrogen production; Materials Science; Morphology; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Noble metals; Oxygen evolution reaction; Oxygen evolution reactions; Performance evaluation; Reaction mechanisms; Review; Stability analysis; Sustainable Hydrogen Production; Water splitting; Water splitting electrolysis; 고분자공학
• ISSN: 2196-5404; 2196-5404
• DOI: 10.1186/s40580-021-00254-x

As a promising substitute for fossil fuels, hydrogen has emerged as a clean and renewable energy. A key challenge is the efficient production of hydrogen to meet the commercial-scale demand of hydrogen. Water splitting electrolysis is a promising pathway to achieve the efficient hydrogen production in terms of energy conversion and storage in which catalysis or electrocatalysis plays a critical role. The development of active, stable, and low-cost catalysts or electrocatalysts is an essential prerequisite for achieving the desired electrocatalytic hydrogen production from water splitting for practical use, which constitutes the central focus of this review. It will start with an introduction of the water splitting performance evaluation of various electrocatalysts in terms of activity, stability, and efficiency. This will be followed by outlining current knowledge on the two half-cell reactions, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), in terms of reaction mechanisms in alkaline and acidic media. Recent advances in the design and preparation of nanostructured noble-metal and non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts will be discussed. New strategies and insights in exploring the synergistic structure, morphology, composition, and active sites of the nanostructured electrocatalysts for increasing the electrocatalytic activity and stability in HER and OER will be highlighted. Finally, future challenges and perspectives in the design of active and robust electrocatalysts for HER and OER towards efficient production of hydrogen from water splitting electrolysis will also be outlined.