Review on Biomass-Derived Carbon-Based Materials for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production: State of the Art and Outlook

The increasing demand for sustainable hydrogen production is driven by the rapid expansion of global energy consumption. Electrocatalytic H2 production is one of the preferred methods for future energy technology. The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has attracted extensive attention as an important half-reaction for traditional water electrolysis. However, cost-effective and efficient electrode materials for HER are scarce. Biomass-derived carbon-based materials could offer a promising solution by utilizing biomass waste through rational engineering design, which can address biomass pollution but also enable the synthesis of effective electrocatalytic materials, aligning with the principles of green chemistry. This study provides a comprehensive review of multiple synthetic methods for producing carbon-based materials from biomass, such as pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, ionothermal carbonization, and molten salt carbonization. The diverse applications of these materials in H2 production are explored. Effective treatment strategies and valuable insights for future biomass-derived carbon-based material design in H2 production are also presented. This progress contributes to a better understanding of these materials and offers valuable insights for future explorations.