Carbon‐Based Materials for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Traditional hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts are generally noble metals, but their application is limited due to high cost and poor stability. Through research, carbon-based catalysts have also shown good HER performance. These catalysts have advantages such as low cost and good stability, making them a potential alternative to traditional noble metal catalysts. This chapter focuses on a series of well-performing carbon-based catalysts, such as porous carbons, low-dimensional carbon materials, metal–organic framework (MOF) materials, atomic metal doping carbon materials and their applications, and catalytic mechanisms in HER. The strategies to improve their HER catalytic activity are also discussed, including increasing specific surface area, doping with heteroatoms, and preparing composite materials. It is hoped that these methods of material synthesis and reaction mechanisms will be helpful and inspire readers to engage in the field of HER.