Recent advances in selenide-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen/oxygen evolution reaction: From mechanism and synthesis to application

Abstract

Water electrolysis is one of the most popular green-hydrogen generation methods, affording high-purity hydrogen in an environmentally friendly manner. Various breakthroughs have been made in the design and optimisation of electrocatalysts. However, the development of low-cost catalysts with high activity remains challenging. Selenide electrocatalysts with the same chalcogenide group have attracted significant attention for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Considering the scarcity and expense of precious metals, this review focuses on the application of transition-metal selenide electrocatalysts in the HER and OER. However, the lack of activity of these electrocatalysts is a major disadvantage. Current methods of improving selenide-based electrocatalysts include element doping, phase transformation, defect engineering, and structural and morphological control. Herein, focusing on the mechanisms of the HER and OER and the synthesis of transition metal selenides, methods of improving the catalytic performance of transition metal selenides, such as Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and other transition metals, for practical applications are presented. This review provides useful information for the development of selenide catalysts.