Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2024, Vol. 63: 33-60.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(24)60076-8

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Recent advances in design of hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts at high current density: A review

Zhipeng Lia, Xiaobin Liua,*(), Qingping Yua,b, Xinyue Qua, Jun Wana, Zhenyu Xiaoa,*(), Jingqi Chia, Lei Wanga,b,*()   

  1. aKey Laboratory of Eco-chemical Engineering, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco-chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, Shandong, China
    bCollege of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, Shandong, China
  • Received:2024-05-04 Accepted:2024-06-04 Online:2024-08-18 Published:2024-08-19
  • Contact: *E-mail: inorchemwl@qust.edu.cn (L. Wang), liuxb@qust.edu.cn (X. Liu), inorgxiaozhenyu@163.com (Z. Xiao).
  • About author:Xiaobin Liu received his PhD from University of Science and Technology Beijing in 2020. He is currently an associate professor at Qingdao University of Science and Technology. His research interests focus on the synthesis of nanomaterials and their application in the field of electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
    Zhenyu Xiao was awarded a PhD in China University of Petroleum (East China) in 2017 under the supervision of Prof. Daofeng Sun. He is currently an associate professor at Qingdao University of Science and Technology. His research interests mainly focus on metal-organic frame materials, nanomaterials, supercapacitor, and electrocatalysis.
    Lei Wang earned his PhD in chemistry from Jilin University in 2006, supervised by professor Shouhua Feng. Subsequently, from 2008 to 2010, he pursued postdoctoral research at the State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University. He is currently a professor of chemistry at Qingdao University of Science and Technology. His research interests mainly focus on the design and synthesis of functional organic-inorganic hybrids and porous MOFs materials, as well as their applications in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, lithium-ion battery, etc.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(51772162);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21971132);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52072197);Postdoctoral Innovation Project of Shandong Province(202102039);Outstanding Youth Foundation of Shandong Province, China(ZR2019JQ14);Youth Innovation and Technology Foundation of Shandong Higher Education Institutions, China(2019KJC004);Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project(2019JZZY020405);Major Basic Research Program of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2020ZD09);111 Project of China(D20017);Taishan Scholar Young Talent Program(tsqn201909114);University Youth Innovation Team of Shandong Province(202201010318);Shandong Province “Double-Hundred Talent Plan”(WST2020003)

Abstract:

The electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy sources offers a promising method of "green hydrogen" production, which is considered to be at the heart of future carbon-neutral energy systems. In the past decades, researchers have reported a number of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts with activity comparable to that of commercial Pt/C, but most of them are tested within a small current density range, typically no more than 500 mA cm-2. To realize the industrial application of hydrogen production from water electrolysis, it is essential to develop high-efficiency HER electrocatalysts at high current density (HCD ≥ 500 mA cm-2). Nevertheless, it remains challenging and significant to rational design HCD electrocatalysts for HER. In this paper, the design strategy of HCD electrocatalysts is discussed, and some HCD electrocatalysts for HER are reviewed in seven categories (alloy, metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal sulfide/selenide, metal nitride, metal phosphide and other derived electrocatalysts). At the end of this article, we also propose some viewpoints and prospects for the future development and research directions of HCD electrocatalysts for HER.

Key words: Electrocatalyst, High current density, Hydrogen evolution reaction, Water electrolysis