Recent Advances in Electrochemical Water Splitting Electrocatalysts: Categorization by Parameters and Catalyst Types

Hydrogen energy, heralded as a novel, clean, and highly efficient energy source, stands at the forefront of initiatives aimed at decarbonizing and fostering a sustainable carbon-neutral economy. Recent strides in hydrogen production through water splitting have marked significant progress, leveraging its inherent benefits, such as zero carbon emissions, safety, and exceptional product purity. Despite these advancements, challenges persist in surmounting the substantial energy barrier and water-splitting costs. Many efficient electrocatalysts have been innovatively designed and reported to address these hurdles. However, the translation of these advances into industrial-scale applications faces multifaceted obstacles. Urgent demands for high-performance electrocatalysts meeting industrial standards underscore the imperative for a deeper comprehension of water-splitting systems. This review delves into the latest developments in water electrolysis, synthesizing experimental findings and promising strategies with different electrochemical parameters along with high entropy metals, doping engineering, interface construction, and defect engineering. Despite considerable strides in creating efficient water-splitting electrocatalysts and numerous recent investigations, numerous challenges persist, impeding the widespread industrial implementation of electrolytic water splitting. By providing a comprehensive overview, this review aims to furnish a knowledge-driven framework in fundamental science while fostering inspiration for technical engineering endeavors to craft efficient electrocatalysts tailored for water splitting.