A review on fundamentals for designing hydrogen evolution electrocatalyst

As a clean, efficient, and renewable energy source, hydrogen has always been recognized as a favourable replacement of fossil fuel. A primary challenge is an efficient generation of hydrogen to fulfil the requirements of hydrogen on a commercial scale. The electrocatalytic process of HER (hydrogen evolution reaction), as primary phase in water electrolytic process for H2 production, has undergone comprehensive observation from recent decades. Electrolytic water splitting presents a promised route to attain efficient hydrogen generation concerning energy conversion and storage, with electrolysis or catalysis playing a pivotal role. The advancement of catalyst or electrocatalysts that are effective, enduring and economical is necessary prerequisite for realizing the intended electrolytic hydrogen generation from water splitting for applicable considerations, embodying the primary emphasis of this article. In this extensive review, we initially summarize the basics of the Hydrogen evolution reaction and examine the latest cutting-edge progress in economical and highly efficiency catalysts utilizing both non-noble and noble metals. Moreover, the recent breakthroughs over the preceding years in electrolytic HER employing more affordable and widely available nanoparticles with a specific center of attention on economical and non-platinum electrocatalysts rooted in metal free (MF) and transition metal composite catalysts are deliberated here.