Exploring the Potential of Ni‐Based Hydrogen Evolution Catalysts in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer

ABSTRACT The pressing need for sustainable hydrogen production has spotlighted anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) as a promising technology, due to its potential for cost‐effective and efficient hydrogen evolution. Nickel (Ni)‐based catalysts have emerged as pivotal players in this domain, offering a compelling alternative to noble metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in AEMWE. Despite their widespread use, challenges such as insufficient activity, conductivity, and long‐term stability under alkaline conditions hinder their commercial scalability. This review provides a systematic exploration of Ni‐based catalysts for HER in AEMWE, beginning with an in‐depth analysis of design principles, including reaction mechanisms, key performance descriptors, and their interrelationships. Subsequently, we categorize advanced regulation strategies for Ni‐based HER catalysts into distinct approaches, offering a critical evaluation of catalyst design, synthesis methods, electrocatalytic performance, and representative examples alongside current limitations. The diverse types of Ni‐based HER catalysts, including metals/alloys, oxides/hydroxides, and Ni‐based composites, are examined, highlighting their respective advantages and drawbacks. We also review the latest research progress on Ni‐based catalysts in practical AEMWE devices. Finally, this review concludes with a discussion of challenges and future prospects, aiming to guide the development of Ni‐based HER catalysts for industrial‐scale hydrogen production via AEMWE.