Sustainable Hydrogen Production Research Articles

A novel combined method for nitrate removal by chemical Pd–Cu/alumina bimetallic catalyst and biohydrogen produced by Rhodobacter johrii VT1 in an anaerobic, photo-fermentation process

In this study, biohydrogen was produced by R. johrii strain VT1 using an anaerobic photo-fermentation process on low-cost industrial wastewater and then used for nitrate reduction in the presence of a chemical catalyst. The effect of substrate, light intensity, and pH on biohydrogen production was investigated. For efficient nitrate reduction, a Pd–Cu/alumina bimetallic catalyst was prepared and analyzed by XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and ICP. Accumulative biohydrogen production was 284.67 ml/h (0.409 ± 0.005 mol/m3h), with molasses, a light intensity of 5300 lux, and a pH of 9. Nitrate removal efficiency was 81.70%, and nitrogen selectivity was 94.25%. The XRD results also showed the stability of the catalyst structure during the reduction. Our study shows that this combined method is effective for nitrate removal and has the potential for large-scale work because of the affordable and sustainable green hydrogen production from wastewater. This is the first report of using biological hydrogen for harmful nitrate removal from drinking water in the presence of a chemical catalyst.

Efficient solar-powered PEM electrolysis for sustainable hydrogen production: an integrated approach

The coupling of photovoltaics (PVs) and PEM water electrolyzers (PEMWE) is a promising method for generating hydrogen from a renewable energy source. While direct coupling is feasible, the variability of solar radiation presents challenges in efficient sizing. This study proposes an innovative energy management strategy that ensures a stable hydrogen production rate, even with fluctuating solar irradiation. By integrating battery-assisted hydrogen production, this approach allows for decentralized, grid-independent renewable energy systems, mitigating instability from PV intermittency. The system utilizes electrochemical storage to absorb excess energy during periods of low or very high irradiation, which falls outside the electrolyzer’s optimal power input range. This stored energy then supports the PV system, ensuring the electrolyzer operates near its nominal capacity and optimizing its lifetime. The system achieves an efficiency of 7.78 to 8.81% at low current density region and 6.6% at high current density in converting solar energy into hydrogen.

Comprehensive review on single-atom catalysts in electrochemical hydrogen-evolution reaction: computational modelling and experimental investigation

ABSTRACT The growing demand for renewable energy sources has driven research efforts towards highly efficient electrochemical processes, especially the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) which is an essential component in renewable hydrogen production. Single Atom Catalysts (SACs) have been recognised as promising catalysts for exceptional HER activities owing to their unique electronic and geometrical features. This comprehensive review highlights the effective correlation between computational modelling and experimental research in fabricating new SACs and better understanding their catalytic mechanisms in the HER. Furthermore, the review briefly describes the choice of metals and tailoring the electronic structure, as well as exploring the influence of the reaction parameters on the catalytic activity of SACs for HER. Concluding remarks alongside future perspectives on the improvement of SACs for HER are emphasised. It is hoped that this review will pave the way for rational design of highly effective, low-cost and stable SACs for sustainable hydrogen production.

Optimized Transition Metal Phosphides for Direct Seawater Electrolysis: Current Trends.

Seawater electrolysis presents a viable route for sustainable large-scale hydrogen production, yet its practical application is hindered by several technical challenges. These include the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen evolution, poor stability, cation deposition at the cathode, electrode corrosion, and competing chloride oxidation at the anode. To overcome these obstacles, the development of innovative electrocatalysts is crucial. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have emerged as promising candidates owing to their superior catalytic performance and tunable structural properties. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent progress in the structural engineering of TMPs tailored for efficient seawater electrolysis. We delve into the catalytic mechanisms underpinning hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in different pH conditions, along with the detrimental side reactions that impede hydrogen production efficiency. Several methods to prepare TMPs are then introduced. Additionally, detailed discussions on structural modifications and interface engineering tactics are presented, showcasing strategies to enhance the activity and durability of TMP electrocatalysts. By analyzing current research findings, our review aims to inform ongoing research endeavors and foster advancements in seawater electrolysis for practical and ecologically sound hydrogen generation.

XPS Analysis of FexNiyPS3 vdW Materials Used in the Hydrogen Evolution Processes.

In response to the global demand for sustainable energy solutions, the quest for stable and cost-effective hydrogen production has garnered significant attention in recent decades. Here, the emergence of layered metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (MPX3, M: transition metal, X: chalcogen) materials and their two-dimensional counterparts with customizable composition and electronic structure holds great promise for such purposes. In the present study, we successfully synthesized large-scale and high-quality FePS3, NiPS3, and an alloyed counterpart, Fe0.5Ni0.5PS3. Subsequent systematic investigations were conducted to probe their respective electronic structures and assess their hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) properties. Remarkably, our results unveiled the successful modulation of the bandgap for FexNiyPS3, ultimately bestowing it with the most favorable HER performance for Fe0.5Ni0.5PS3 when compared to the other two samples. Furthermore, our exploration into the evolution of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra demonstrated that the charge conversions of metal cations play a pivotal role in the HER reactions. This critical insight further enriches our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing the performance of the prepared layered MPX3-based electrocatalysts, thus facilitating a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the pre- and post-HER reactions. This work not only sheds light on the intricate interplay between composition, electronic structure, and catalytic performance in the realm of novel electrocatalysts, but also contributes to the broader scientific community's pursuit of sustainable and efficient hydrogen production.

Effect of the synthesis route and Co Coverage on Co / Ti3C2Tx materials for the oxygen evolution reaction

Green hydrogen resulting from water electrolysis is a key component for the transition to a renewable energy economy. However, it's success highly depends on active and stable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) which is the bottleneck reaction of water electrolysis. Herein we assess the OER performance of non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts comprising Co oxide/hydroxide and delaminated 2D transition metal carbide sheets, Ti3C2Tx MXene. The catalytically active sites are provided by Co oxide/hydroxide, while the MXene contributes exceptional electrical conductivity. Our comprehensive electrochemical evaluation of their OER performance reveals that the chemical functionalization of Co on MXene sheets outperforms the pure Co or MXene alone, as well as physically mixed materials, across all tested performance metrics. From the materials characterisation, the chemical functionalized Co/Ti3C2Tx materials exhibit increased formation of layered double hydroxide (LDH) Co(OH)2 structures compared to the pure Co and physically mixed materials which may result in the improved OER activity observed for these materials. These findings emphasize the potential of anchoring transition metal oxides/hydroxides on MXene as a superior OER electrocatalyst for advancing sustainable green hydrogen production.

Photocatalytic Hydrogen-Future Energy

The rapid increase in energy consumption, driven by the rising vehicle population and travel demand, has led to a surge in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This necessitates the development of sustainable and eco-friendly technologies and fuels to mitigate global and local environmental impacts. Four primary justifications support transitioning to alternative fuels and technologies: dwindling oil reserves worldwide, adverse environmental effects of vehicle pollution, escalating oil production costs, and the complex challenges of maintaining energy security in international markets. To address these concerns, there is a growing global demand for hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. Utilizing photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting reactions, particularly with graphene quantum dots-based composites, offers promising avenues for efficient and eco-friendly hydrogen generation. The selection of these systems is based on their unique physical and chemical properties, with graphene providing strong support and efficient electron transport, while components like cadmium sulfide (CdS) and zinc oxide (ZnO) enhance light absorption and charge separation. This integrated approach shows potential for efficient and sustainable hydrogen production, further bolstered by advances in metal-containing photocatalysts and collaborative efforts across energy markets.

Modulation of Sulfur Vacancies in ZnIn2S4/MXene Schottky Heterojunction Photocatalyst Promotes Hydrogen Evolution

AbstractThe sustainable production of hydrogen utilizing solar energy is a pivotal strategy for reducing reliance on fossil fuels. ZnIn2S4 (ZIS), as a typical metal sulfide semiconductor, has received extensive attention in photocatalysis. Although the introduction of sulfur (S) vacancies in ZIS to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen production by creating defect energy levels has been explored, detailed studies on the control and modulation of S‐vacancies in ZIS are sparce. This study demonstrates that while moderate levels of S‐vacancies can enhance hydrogen evolution, excessive vacancies may hinder the process, underscoring the importance of S‐vacancy modulation. Guided by theoretical calculations, We have designed and synthesized ZIS with modulated S‐vacancies to realize favorable hydrogen adsorption‐free energy and integrated in a Schottky‐heterojunction with MXene co‐catalysts for enhanced hydrogen evolution. The optimized hydrogen evolution performance of ZnIn2S4/MXene (ZMX) reaches 14.82 mmol g−1 h−1 under visible light irradiation, surpassing many reported ZnIn2S4‐based photocatalysts. The enhanced performance is ascribed to widened light absorption and enhanced carrier transportation realized by S‐vacancy modulation and the co‐catalytic effect. Femtosecond ultrafast absorption (fs‐TA) spectra and other in‐situ/ex‐situ characterizations further prove an efficient separation and transfer in an as‐prepared ZMX catalyst. These findings open up new perspectives for designing catalysts with vacancy modulation.

Optimizing Conductive Polymer Bulk Structure: Influence of Polymerization Temperature on Photocatalytic Performance for Sustainable Hydrogen Production

The influence of the polymerization temperature upon the bulk‐structure‐doped conductive polymer polyaniline (emeraldine‐salt, PANI) on the semiconducting, optical, and electrical properties of the photocatalyst is investigated. When the B‐PANI polymerization temperature increases from 5 to 60 °C, the crystallinity and conductivity of Pt/N‐TiO2/B‐PANI (PNT/B‐PANI) decreases. To rectify the problems of recycling convenience and secondary pollution, this study combines a photocatalyst and a porous polystyrene film for sustainable hydrogen production. The photocatalytic performance of the polystyrene/PNT/B‐PANI‐5 (PS/PNT/B‐PANI‐5) photocatalyst film (27 047 μmol h−1 g−1) under simulated sunlight irradiation is enhanced by a factor of up to 1.6 compared to that of PS/PNT. Therefore, the PS/PNT/B‐PANI photocatalyst film is a visible‐light photocatalyst which is a promising candidate for enhancing photocatalytic recycling convenience.

Microwave-assisted sumac based biocatalyst synthesis for effective hydrogen production

Hydrogen (H2), a renewable energy source with a high energy density and a reputation for being environmentally benign, is being lauded for its potential in various future applications. In the present context, the catalytic methanolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is of considerable importance due to its provision of a pathway for the efficient production of hydrogen gas (H2). The main aim of this research attempt was to assess the viability of utilizing refuse defatted sumac seeds as an unusual precursor in microwave-assisted K2CO3 activation to produce a biocatalyst.The primary objective that motivated the synthesis of the biocatalyst was to facilitate the generation of hydrogen via the catalytic methanolysis of NaBH4. With the aim of developing a biocatalyst characterized by enhanced catalytic performance, we conducted an exhaustive investigation of a wide range of experimental parameters. The activation agent-to-sample ratio (IR), impregnation time, microwave power, and irradiation time were among these parameters.Significantly enhanced in catalytic activity, the biocatalyst produced under particular conditions achieved a peak hydrogen production efficiency of 10,941 mL min− 1 g.cat− 1. In particular, it was determined that the ideal conditions were as follows: 0.5 IR, 24 h of impregnation, 500 W of microwave power, and 10 min of irradiation. This novel strategy not only demonstrates the impressive potential of eco-friendly biocatalysts, but also positions them as a viable alternative material for the sustainable production of hydrogen via NaBH4 methanolysis.Three significant parameters contribute to the value and renewability of this study. The first is that waste is used as the primary material; the second is that the activator is less hazardous than other activators; and the third is that microwave activation is a green chemistry technique.Graphical

Enhancing hydrogen production capability from urine-containing sewage through optimization of urea oxidation pathways

The electrochemical urea oxidation reaction (UOR) represents a promising route to sustainable hydrogen production and reuse of urea-containing sewage. However, the efficiency of UOR is hindered by the dehydrogenation of intermediate *CONH2NH and the conversion of toxic intermediate the *CO. Herein, we report a robust strategy to elevate UOR performance by introducing iron (Fe) atoms into the Ni3S2@NiSe2 heterojunctions (denoted Fe-Ni3S2@NiSe2). The Fe-Ni3S2@NiSe2 exhibits remarkable selectivity and electrocatalytic activity towards UOR, attributed to its reconstruction into Fe-NiOOH species during UOR process, as confirmed by in-situ Raman technology. Utilizing Fe-Ni3S2@NiSe2 as both the cathode and anode in a single-chamber electrolytic cell, the hydrogen production rate reaches 588.4 μmol h−1 in simulated urea-containing sewage and 432.1 μmol h−1 in actual human urine, respectively. Notably, in both scenarios, no oxygen product is detected, and the hydrogen production efficiency surpasses that of traditional water splitting by 5.8-fold and 4.3-fold, respectively. In-situ infrared spectroscopy study reveals that the UOR process involves the cleavage of C-N bond and the generation of CO2. Density functional theory calculations further signifies that the incorporation of Fe facilitates the dehydrogenation of *CONH2NH intermediates, strengthens the d-p hybridization, and weakens O-H bonds, thereby resulting in reduced energy barriers for UOR. Our strategy holds promise for efficient hydrogen production from sewage via UOR, offering potential implications for wastewater treatment and clean energy generation.

Solution-processed nanoporous and faceted CuO electrocatalyst for enhanced solar-to-hydrogen and nitrate-to-ammonia production

Porosity control and facet engineering of electrocatalysts are critical for sustainable hydrogen production and wastewater upcycling into value-added chemicals. Herein, we report the sol-gel synthesis of a nanoporous faceted cupric oxide (nf-CuO) electrocatalyst film via a controlled polyesterification reaction. The formation mechanism of the unique nf-CuO morphology was analyzed and proposed. Notably, ligand additives such as ethylene glycol, citric acid, and polyethylene glycol function as morphology-controlling agents, and the polyesterification reaction between ligands can form covalent gel networks with trapped Cu ions. During thermal annealing, nucleation and nanoparticle growth along the covalent gel network enabled the formation of nanoporous and multifaceted CuO electrocatalysts on fluorine-doped SnO2 substrates, which was verified using ex-situ thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The optimally synthesized nf-CuO exhibited high electrocatalytic activity in both photoelectrochemical hydrogen production and electrochemical nitrate reduction reactions. This enhanced performance was attributed to the nanoporosity-induced light-harvesting enhancement, enlarged surface area, and increased number of active sites. Our work emphasizes the importance of additive engineering to simultaneously control the porosity and facets of electrocatalysts and demonstrates its effectiveness in enhancing the electrocatalytic activity of diverse energy conversion devices.

Synergistic energy solutions: Solar chimney and nuclear power plant integration for sustainable green hydrogen, electricity, and water production

Globally, countries are strategically devising and implementing plans for hydrogen production, recognizing its status as the future's primary energy fuel. This study, conducted in Irbid, Jordan, serves as a case study focusing on producing green hydrogen by integrating a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) with a nuclear power plant (NPP). The innovative design of the proposed SCPP involves the incorporation of a water pool and an electrolyzer station, facilitating the production of desalinated water, green hydrogen, and oxygen, and leveraging the excess waste heat generated by the NPP to enhance the overall system performance. The proposed integration directly routes the excess hot air from the NPP tower into the SCPP's collector to enhance the temperature profile under the collector and the air velocity, boosting electricity and water production. This integration demonstrated a significant improvement over the conventional SCPP. Specifically, the SCPP+ NPP system produced 716 MWh/year, surpassing the traditional SCPP's output of 362 MWh/year. Furthermore, the proposed design exhibited substantial gains in freshwater production, yielding approximately 260,000 tons/year compared to the conventional SCPP's 140,000 tons/year. Ratio analysis indicates a positive correlation between integrated electricity generation and water output, emphasizing the sustained improvement in water production (average ratio ∼1.88) in the SCPP+NPP system. The proposed SCPP+NPP not only doubled its green hydrogen output, reaching 25 tons/year compared to the conventional SCPP's 13 tons/year, but also contributed a substantial 200 tons/year of oxygen, surpassing the traditional SCPP's 100 tons/year. The results underscored the superior performance of the proposed SCPP+ NPP across various metrics—hydrogen production, electricity generation, freshwater yield, and oxygen output—exhibiting a twofold improvement over the conventional SCPP. Consequently, implementing the integration between SCPP and NPP, emerges as a promising and viable solution for green hydrogen production in Jordan.

Designing core-shell heterostructure arrays based on snowflake NiCoFe-LTH shelled over W2N-WC nanowires as an advanced bi-functional electrocatalyst for boosting alkaline water/seawater electrolysis

The pursuit of efficient and sustainable hydrogen production through water splitting has led to intensive research in the field of electrocatalysis. However, the impediment posed by sluggish reaction kinetics has served as a significant barrier. This challenge has inspired the development of electrocatalysts characterized by high activity, abundance in earth's resources, and long-term stability. In addressing this obstacle, it is imperative to meticulously fine-tune the structure, morphology, and electronic state of electrocatalysts. By systematically manipulating these key parameters, the full potential of electrocatalysts can unleash, enhancing their catalytic activity and overall performance. Hence in this study, a novel heterostructure is designed, showcasing core–shell architectures achieved by covering W2N-WC nanowire arrays with tri-metallic Nickel-Cobalt-Iron layered triple hydroxide nanosheets on carbon felt support (NiCoFe-LTH/W2N-WC/CF). By integrating the different virtue such as binder free electrode design, synergistic effect between different components, core–shell structural advantages, high exposed active sites, high electrical conductivity and heterostructure design, NiCoFe-LTH/W2N-WC/CF demonstrates striking catalytic performances under alkaline conditions. The substantiation of all the mentioned advantages has been validated through electrochemical data in this study. According to these results NiCoFe-LTH/W2N-WC/CF achieves a current density of 10 mA cm−2 needs overpotential values of 101 mV for HER and 206 mV for OER, respectively. Moreover, as a bi-functional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting, a two-electrode device needs a voltage of 1.543 V and 1.569 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for alkaline water and alkaline seawater electrolysis, respectively. Briefly, this research with attempting to combination of different factors try to present a promising stride towards advancing bi-functional catalytic activity with tailored architectures for practical green hydrogen production via electrochemical water splitting process.

The formation of unsaturated IrOx in SrIrO3 by cobalt-doping for acidic oxygen evolution reaction

Electrocatalytic water splitting is a promising route for sustainable hydrogen production. However, the high overpotential of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction poses significant challenge. SrIrO3-based perovskite-type catalysts have shown great potential for acidic oxygen evolution reaction, but the origins of their high activity are still unclear. Herein, we develop a Co-doped SrIrO3 system to enhance oxygen evolution reaction activity and elucidate the origin of catalytic activity. In situ experiments reveal Co activates surface lattice oxygen, rapidly exposing IrOx active sites, while bulk Co doping optimizes the adsorbate binding energy of IrOx. The Co-doped SrIrO3 demonstrates high oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalytic activity, markedly surpassing the commercial IrO2 catalysts in both conventional electrolyzer and proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer.

Construction of Au/ZnWO4/CdS Ternary Photocatalysts with Oxygen Vacancy Modification for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

AbstractRational design and optimization of the photocatalyst architecture, aimed at effectively enhancing light absorption and accelerating charge separation and transfer, can lead to the accomplishment of sustainable photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this study, a ternary system of Au/ZnWO4/CdS is prepared with oxygen vacancy modification through a combination of hydrothermal, chemical precipitation, and photochemical deposition methods. The addition of CdS and Au nanoparticles significantly enhances the light absorption range of ZnWO4 (ZWO) and creates more active sites for hydrogen production. The type‐II engineered heterojunction, in combination with Au as a cocatalyst, is a viable and efficient method for enhancing the separation and transport of electron–hole pairs, thereby facilitating the effective precipitation of hydrogen through photocatalysis. 5A10ZC exhibits a hydrogen production rate of 5483.62 µmol g−1 h−1, which is 167 times higher than that of unmodified ZWO and 29 times higher than that of pure CdS. In addition, it exhibits excellent cycle stability in the hydrogen production cycle stability test. The photoelectrochemical test results show that the construction of the system improves the separation and transfer efficiency of photogenerated carriers. This study provides a new inspiration for the construction of high‐performance photocatalytic materials.

Boosting Hydrogen Production through Water Splitting: N, Ni, and N-Ni Doped ZnO Photocatalysts

This work investigates the potential of N, Ni, and N-Ni-doped ZnO as photocatalysts for hydrogen production through water splitting. Sonochemical techniques were used to synthesize these materials. In contrast to undoped or singly-doped ZnO, N-Ni-double-doped ZnO demonstrated a significantly narrower band gap (2.89 eV) and smaller crystallites (21.60 nm). This led to a remarkable doubling in the hydrogen production rate under UV-visible light irradiation. The combined effect of N and Ni doping effectively promotes efficient charge separation and enhanced light absorption, resulting in significantly increased photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, N-Ni-ZnO demonstrates exceptional stability, retaining over 95% of its initial activity after five cycles. This work paves the way for the development of cost-effective and scalable photocatalysts for sustainable solar hydrogen production.

Multidimensional engineering of Rhodobacter sphaeroides for enhanced photo-fermentative hydrogen production

The photo-fermentative hydrogen production by purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacteria (PNSB) is regarded as a promising approach for sustainable hydrogen production. In PNSB, biohydrogen synthesis is catalyzed by nitrogenase which requires two essential cofactors of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and electron. To avoid the insufficient ATP supply that limits the nitrogenase activity for hydrogen production, we systematically engineered Rhodobacter sphaeroides to improve the hydrogen production by manipulating the light harvesting (LH) complexes, the electron transfer chain (ETC), the adenosine diphosphate (ADP) synthetic pathway, the F0F1-ATPase expression, and the nitrogenase expression. To improve the photosynthetic efficiency, we engineered the LH complexes by eliminating pucBA and overexpressing pufQ and spbA. Then, the ETC was boosted by deleting qxt-type oxidase and integrating the electron carrier cytochrome cy at the site of cyt cbb3 oxidase. In addition, we increased the supply of precursor ADP by overexpressing adk, and the abundance of F0F1-ATPase was efficiently enhanced through overexpressing atpXF. Further transposon engineering with the integration of nifHDK and atpXF resulted in a mutant YH27 with a substantial improvement of performance over the base strain, and its nitrogenase activity and hydrogen production were enhanced by 404 % and 93 %, respectively. Taken together, the multidimensional strategies enabled the engineered R. sphaeroides with a hydrogen productivity of 61.2 mL/(Lh) and a yield of 3.0 mol/mol acetate under the fed-batch condition, which represents one of the most efficient biohydrogen-producing strains.

Performance of Stainless-Steel Bipolar Plates (SS-BPPs) in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyser (PEMWE): A Comprehensive Review

Bipolar Plates (BPPs) play a critical role in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolysers (PEMWEs) for effective hydrogen generation. The performance and longevity of the system can be considerably impacted by choosing the suitable material for these components. Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis technology relies on cost-effective and corrosion-resistant BPPs. Tantalum, niobium, and titanium are low-cost, easy-to-machine materials that have good electrical and thermal conductivity; however, they exhibit low corrosion resistance. Noble metal and metal nitride coatings are usually investigated to minimize corrosion and interfacial contact resistance. Because of its performance-to-cost ratio, Stainless Steel (SS) based materials are among the most popular materials for BPP development. This study recommends material and operating parameters to improve PEMWE systems for sustainable hydrogen production’s efficiency, durability, and economic viability.

Intercalated PtCo Electrocatalyst of Vanadium Metal Oxide Increases Charge Density to Facilitate Hydrogen Evolution.

Efforts to develop high-performance electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are of utmost importance in ensuring sustainable hydrogen production. The controllable fabrication of inexpensive, durable, and high-efficient HER catalysts still remains a great challenge. Herein, we introduce a universal strategy aiming to achieve rapid synthesis of highly active hydrogen evolution catalysts using a controllable hydrogen insertion method and solvothermal process. Hydrogen vanadium bronze HxV2O5 was obtained through controlling the ethanol reaction rate in the oxidization process of hydrogen peroxide. Subsequently, the intermetallic PtCoVO supported on two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets was prepared by a solvothermal method at the oil/water interface. In terms of HER performance, PtCoVO/g-C3N4 demonstrates superior characteristics compared to PtCo/g-C3N4 and PtCoV/g-C3N4. This superiority can be attributed to the notable influence of oxygen vacancies in HxV2O5 on the electrical properties of the catalyst. By adjusting the relative proportions of metal atoms in the PtCoVO/g-C3N4 nanomaterials, the PtCoVO/g-C3N4 nanocomposites show significant HER overpotential of η10 = 92 mV, a Tafel slope of 65.21 mV dec-1, and outstanding stability (a continuous test lasting 48 h). The nanoarchitecture of a g-C3N4-supported PtCoVO nanoalloy catalyst exhibits exceptional resistance to nanoparticle migration and corrosion, owing to the strong interaction between the metal nanoparticles and the g-C3N4 support. Pt, Co, and V simultaneous doping has been shown by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to enhance the density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level. This augmentation leads to a higher charge density and a reduction in the adsorption energy of intermediates.