Transition Metal-Based Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution in Acid Medium

In this industrial era, the demand for energy increases exponentially, which in turn drives towards the depletion of fossil fuels. The search for an alternative clean energy resource now arrived at hydrogen, which has gained considerable attention in recent years due to its high energy density and environmental friendliness. But to initiate an economy based on hydrogen, there has to be a more efficient and eco-friendly route for hydrogen production. The possibility of producing energy from electro-/photo-catalytic hydrogen generation through water splitting has gained increased attention recently. Platinum-based materials are known to be the best catalysts for HER, but due to the high cost and scarcity of platinum limits its industrial usage. There is a huge interest in developing highly active, efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Transition metal-based compounds are discovered as the potential catalysts that can replace platinum in the near future.