Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Combining renewable energy harvesting facilities with electrochemical water splitting systems provides a plausible way toward the cost-effective production of renewable hydrogen, which makes electrochemical water splitting an important cornerstone for the hydrogen society. Electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as the cathodic part of the water splitting process, has been explored deeply and extensively. Recent studies are driven by developing low-cost alternatives to platinum group metals (PGMs)-based electrocatalysts for the HER, which in turn has also stimulated the exploration of the HER mechanism, novel electrocatalysts, and material synthesis methods. In this chapter, we aim to introduce the classic mechanisms of the electrochemical HER and introduce the development of typical HER electrocatalysts including alloys, heterostructures, and single atoms based on both PGMs and PGM-free materials.