Mini review on H2 production from electrochemical water splitting according to special nanostructured morphology of electrocatalysts

Abstract

Hydrogen is one of the most promising alternative energy resources of fossil fuels. Among the many ways to generate hydrogen gas, electrochemical water splitting is more feasible and renewable. Compared to processes using solar energy for a specific geological environment or thermochemical decomposition at high temperatures, the electrocatalysis of water can produce hydrogen without the restriction of geological conditions and scale-up facilities. Water is one of the most renewable and sustainable resources to obtain hydrogen. On the other hand, water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen is thermodynamically unfavorable under the atmospheric condition. Therefore, novel materials are needed to produce hydrogen from water splitting using electrocatalysts. Recently, various state-of-the-art technologies and catalysts have been developed in the electrocatalysis of water to produce hydrogen. Among the litany of novel materials, according to the preparation method and morphology of electrocatalysts, the hydrogen production efficiency from water splitting shows great differences. This paper recently reported efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting using multi-component catalysts composed of several metals, organic polymer, metal sulfides, and metal phosphides. In addition, the essential principles for an investigation regarding more efficient hybrid electrocatalysts for water splitting as a renewable and sustainable hydrogen producing method can be determined.