Abstract
The production of hydrogen via the water splitting process is one of the most promising technologies for future clean energy requirements, and one of the best related challenges is the choice of the most highly efficient and cost effective electrocatalyst. Conventional electrocatalysts based on precious metals are rare and very-expensive for large-scale production of hydrogen, demanding the exploration for low-cost earth abundant alternatives. In this context, extensive works from both theoretical and experimental investigations have shown that two-dimensional (2D) layered materials have gained considerable attention as highly effective electrocatalytic materials for electrical-driven hydrogen production because of their unique layered structure and exciting electrical properties. This review highlights recent advancements on 2D layered materials, including graphene, transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), MXene, and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as cost-effective and highly efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen production. In addition, some fundamental aspects of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process and a wide ranging overview on several strategies to design and synthesize 2D layered material as HER electrocatalysts for commercial applications are introduced. Finally, the conclusion and futuristic prospects and challenges of the advancement of 2D layered materials as non-precious HER electrocatalysts are briefly discussed.
Highlights
Over recent years, the energy crisis and environmental pollution have become global concerns
Researchers are more focused on developing non-precious and highly active catalysts, which are cheaper, earth abundant, highly efficient, durable and possible to replace the high-priced precious metal catalysts [20,21,22]. Inspired by these multiple challenges, this review provides the recent advancements on designs of cost-effective and highly efficient non-precious electrocatalysts based on 2D layered materials for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) applications, including graphene, transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), MXene, and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)
There are two half reactions in water splitting processes: (a) oxygen obtained at an anode, called an oxygen evolution reaction (OER); and (b) hydrogen obtained at a cathode, called a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) [3]
Summary
The energy crisis and environmental pollution have become global concerns. The commercial implications of the precious metals for hydrogen production on a large scale limited by their high cost and low abundance nature. Researchers are more focused on developing non-precious and highly active catalysts, which are cheaper, earth abundant, highly efficient, durable and possible to replace the high-priced precious metal catalysts [20,21,22]. Inspired by these multiple challenges, this review provides the recent advancements on designs of cost-effective and highly efficient non-precious electrocatalysts based on 2D layered materials for HER applications, including graphene, transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), MXene, and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)
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