Metal Phosphates/Phosphonates as Catalysts for HER

Abstract

As the cleanest renewable resource with the highest gravimetric energy density, hydrogen fuel is considered the preferred alternative to fossil fuels for the supply of future energy. Water electrolysis provides an attractive strategy to achieve efficient and sustainable hydrogen generation for the future hydrogen economy. As the vital half-reaction of water electrolysis for hydrogen production, cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is always intensely researched over the past decades. The employment of highly active HER catalysts can make water electrolysis more economical and energy-efficient. Metal phosphates/phosphonates (MPi/MPPi) are promising and burgeoning HER catalysts owing to their special electronic structure, tunable composition, and multi-functionality. In this chapter, states of the art of main metal-based phosphates/phosphonates catalysts including cobalt, nickel, iron, and other metal phosphates/phosphonates for HER are summarized. While those effective strategies for the design and construction of MPi/MPPi-based catalysts with high HER activities and the catalysis mechanisms are also introduced and discussed. In addition, the application of MPi/MPPi-based catalysts in the future for HER has been prospected.