Intermetallic electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution

Electrochemical water splitting is a promising strategy for hydrogen production, as it can be readily integrated with renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, thereby paving the way for sustainable and decentralized generation of green hydrogen. The development of cathode electrocatalysts toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of great importance for hydrogen production, which has resulted in considerable efforts devoted to the rational design and synthesis of highly efficient HER electrocatalysts via the structural regulation. Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) possessing well-defined crystal structures have attracted significant attention as high-activity and high-stability HER catalysts due to their tunable electronic structure originating from the specific ordered atomic arrangement and the synergistic effect between distinct metal atoms. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the synthesis of IMC electrocatalysts and then outline their electrocatalytic HER performance. In addition, we summarize the HER performance under high current densities and applications in membrane electrode assemblies of various catalysts. Finally, we provide some perspectives on the future opportunities, emerging trends, and the key challenges in the research field of IMC-based electrocatalysts for HER. The urgent need for renewable energy sources has spotlighted hydrogen as a clean alternative due to its high energy density and zero-carbon emissions. However, traditional industrial hydrogen production methods often result in impurities that limit their use in applications like fuel cells. Electrocatalytic water splitting offers a cleaner alternative, with intermetallic compounds (IMCs) emerging as promising catalysts due to their ordered atomic structures and stability. This paper explores various synthesis methods for IMCs, such as thermal annealing and wet-chemical approaches, which allow for precise control over catalyst morphology and composition. The study highlights significant improvements in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance, with IMCs demonstrating lower overpotentials and enhanced stability compared to traditional catalysts. These findings suggest that IMCs could play a crucial role in large-scale hydrogen production. This summary was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then revised and fact-checked by the author. Electrochemical water splitting has emerged as a key technology for sustainable hydrogen production, placing stringent demands on the activity and durability of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts. Intermetallic compounds (IMCs), possessing well-defined atomic ordering and precisely tunable electronic structures, have recently attracted growing attention as a new class of highly active and stable HER catalysts. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the rational synthesis of IMC electrocatalysts and correlates their structural features with HER performance. In addition, current challenges and future research directions for IMC-based HER electrocatalysts are critically discussed.