Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2024, Vol. 66: 1-19.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(24)60130-0

• Reviews •     Next Articles

Interface engineering of advanced electrocatalysts toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reactions

Wangyang Wua, Shidan Yanga, Huidan Qiana, Ling Zhanga,*(), Lishan Pengb,*(), Li Lia,*(), Bin Liuc, Zidong Weia   

  1. aNational Key Laboratory of Special Power Supplies, National-Municipal Joint Engineering Laboratory for Chemical Process Intensification and Reaction, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
    bKey Laboratory of Rare Earths, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou 341119, Jiangxi, China
    cDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077 China
  • Received:2024-07-27 Accepted:2024-08-29 Online:2024-11-18 Published:2024-11-10
  • Contact: *E-mail: zhanglinggood@cqu.edu.cn (L. Zhang),iliracial@cqu.edu.cn (L. Li),lspeng@gia.cas.cn (L. Peng).
  • About author:Ling Zhang (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University) received his B.S. and Ph. D. degrees from Nanjing Tech University in 2014 and Chongqing University in 2022, respectively. Currently, he is a postdoctoral at Chongqing University. His current research interests focus on developing high-performance HER/OER electrocatalysts.
    Lishan Peng (Key Laboratory of Rare Earths, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences) is currently an Associate Professor in the Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He obtained a Ph.D. degree in Chemical engineering and technology in 2019 at Chongqing University. Subsequently he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Westlake University (China), the University of Auckland (New Zealand) and the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research interests include the design and theoretical study of advanced electrocatalysts for energy storage and conversion.
    Li Li (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University) completed her MSc and PhD degrees in 2004 and 2010, respectively, at Chongqing University. In 2010, she became a faculty member at the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, also at Chongqing University. Her primary research interests revolve around the fundamental studies of electrochemical and electrocatalytic processes through theoretical investigations. Her research focuses on developing new electrocatalysts with high activity and stability, exploring the relationship between catalytic mechanisms and the electronic structure of catalysts, and understanding the underlying mechanisms. She has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers. Some of her main academic achievements include proposing the "triple effect" to explain the enhancement mechanism of doped graphene for ORR, exploring the theoretical foundation for tuning the catalytic activity and stability of carbon-supported Pt-based catalysts, manifesting a general oxygen-vacancies-based regulation mechanism for enhancing the ORR activity of metal oxides, and proposing a "chimney effect" for enhancing HER activity on the interface between metal oxide/metal catalysts.
  • Supported by:
    National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFB4000300)

Abstract:

Developing efficient, stable, and low-cost electrocatalysts toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) in water electrolysis driven by renewable energy sources has always been discussed over the past decade. To reduce energy consumption and improve energy utilization efficiency, highly active electrocatalytic electrodes are essential for lowering the energy barrier of the HER. Catalysts featuring multiple interfaces have attracted significant research interest recently due to their enhanced physicochemical properties. Reasonable interface modulation can optimize intermediate active species' adsorption energy, improve catalytic active sites' selectivity, and enhance intrinsic catalytic activity. Here, we provided an overview of the latest advancement in interface engineering for efficient HER catalysts. We begin with a brief introduction to the fundamental concepts and mechanisms of alkaline HER. Then, we analyze and discuss current regulating principles in interface engineering for HER catalysts, focusing particularly on optimizing electron structures and modulating microenvironment reactions. Finally, the challenges and further prospects of interface catalysts for future applications are discussed.

Key words: Electrocatalysis, Hydrogen evolution reaction, Interface engineering, Synergistic effect, Built-in electric field, Hydrogen spillover, Structure of interfacial water