Recent advancements in noble-metal electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

Available online Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) is a prominent technique for obtaining a sustainable hydrogen source and effectively managing the energy infrastructure. Noble metal-based electrocatalysts, owing to their exceptional hydrogen binding energy, exhibit remarkable catalytic activity and long-term stability in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the restricted accessibility and exorbitant cost of noble-metal materials pose obstacles to their extensive adoption in industrial contexts. This review investigates strategies aimed at reducing the dependence on noble-metal electrocatalysts and developing a cost-effective alkaline HER catalyst, while considering the principles of sustainable development. The initial discussion covers the fundamental principle of HER, followed by an overview of prevalent techniques for synthesizing catalysts based on noble metals, along with a thorough examination of recent advancements. The subsequent discussion focuses on the strategies employed to improve noble metal-based catalysts, including enhancing the intrinsic activity at active sites and increasing the quantity of active sites. Ultimately, this investigation concludes by examining the present state and future direction of research in the field of electrocatalysis for the HER.