Design and Synthesis of Noble Metal‐Based Alloy Electrocatalysts and Their Application in Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Hydrogen energy is regarded as the ultimate energy source for future human society, and the preparation of hydrogen from water electrolysis is recognized as the most ideal way. One of the key factors to achieve large‐scale hydrogen production by water splitting is the availability of highly active and stable electrocatalysts. Although non‐precious metal electrocatalysts have made great strides in recent years, the best hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts are still based on noble metals. Therefore, it is particularly important to improve the overall activity of the electrocatalysts while reducing the noble metals load. Alloying strategies can shoulder the burden of optimizing electrocatalysts cost and improving electrocatalysts performance. With this in mind, recent work on the application of noble metal‐based alloy electrocatalysts in the field of hydrogen production from water electrolysis is summarized. In this review, first, the mechanism of HER is described; then, the current development of synthesis methods for alloy electrocatalysts is presented; finally, an example analysis of practical application studies on alloy electrocatalysts in hydrogen production is presented. In addition, at the end of this review, the prospects, opportunities, and challenges facing noble metal‐based alloy electrocatalysts are tried to discuss.

Recent advances towards increasing the Pt utilization efficiency for hydrogen evolution reaction: a review

“…Pt alloys have been extensively researched for HER performance, and Pt has been alloyed with many different transition metals such as Cu, Co, Ni, and Fe as well as with noble metals such as Ru, Rh, and Ir. 59–61 This was done in order to optimize the Pt–H bond strength for the HER by adjusting Pt's d-band center.…”

Insights of the efficient hydrogen evolution reaction performance in bimetallic Au4Cu2 nanoclusters

“…30–32 Metal NCs, due to their ultrasmall small sizes of nearly 2 nm with fascinating properties and atomic precision, have gained significant attention towards their applications in catalysis. 33–36 Atomically precise gold nanoclusters offer precise control over their geometric structure, electronic properties, and surface ligands, thus holding significant appeal as catalysts for electrochemical reactions due to their ultrasmall size and high surface-active sites. 37–41 Zhao et al investigated the performance of Au 25 nanoclusters on MoS 2 for the hydrogen evolution reaction, achieving an overpotential of 280 mV.…”

MnS-MoS2 Nanosheets Supported on Mo Plates as Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

“…Currently, platinum (Pt) and Pt-based materials are recognized to possess admirable HER activity, but their large-scale applications are severely hampered by their high price and scarcity. 12,13 Thus, it is still a crucial challenge to develop highly active, earth-abundant metal-based electrocatalysts.…”

“…At present, the urgent demand for green and sustainable energy carriers is driven by the excessive consumption of fossil energy and the accompanying CO 2 emissions. − Therefore, hydrogen energy (H 2 ) is considered an ideal carbon-free energy to replace fossil energy due to its high mass energy density and clean released energy product. , Among many different hydrogen generation technologies, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has been widely investigated due to its high hydrogen purity and high efficiency. , Because the HER is a thermodynamically upward process, significant efforts have been done to improve its reaction rate and cut down the energy barrier. − Accordingly, it is rewarding to develop fast catalytic kinetics, a low driving overpotential, and highly efficient electrocatalysts. Currently, platinum (Pt) and Pt-based materials are recognized to possess admirable HER activity, but their large-scale applications are severely hampered by their high price and scarcity. , Thus, it is still a crucial challenge to develop highly active, earth-abundant metal-based electrocatalysts.…”