Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production via Water Splitting

In electrocatalytic water splitting, electrical energy drives the dissociation of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen at catalytic electrodes. On the cathode, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) reduces protons or water to molecular hydrogen, while on the anode the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) oxidises water to oxygen. The efficiency of this process depends on catalyst composition, electrode architecture, electrolyte pH and applied potential. Platinum and other noble metals exhibit excellent HER activity but are limited by cost and scarcity, prompting the development of earth-abundant alternatives. Recent advances have focused on transition-metal alloys, composites, heterostructures and novel supports to lower overpotentials, accelerate charge transfer and enhance long-term stability. Operando characterisation techniques, such as in situ spectroscopy and microscopy, alongside theoretical modelling, are now central to understanding reaction mechanisms and guiding rational catalyst design. Electrocatalytic water splitting holds global significance for renewable energy storage and decarbonisation, enabling green hydrogen production for industry, transport and power generation.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that non-noble metal alloys can rival platinum for HER activity. For example, a molybdenum–nickel electrocatalyst supported on oxide cuboids achieves near-zero onset overpotential and a Tafel slope of 30 mV dec⁻¹ by promoting rapid water dissociation and hydrogen recombination. Similarly, a rhodium–silicon heterocomposite decouples hydrogen adsorption and evolution to exceed platinum performance at high overpotentials, harnessing silicon nanowires to facilitate H₂ desorption. Additionally, free-standing Raney-type nickel–molybdenum electrodes fabricated by plasma spraying exhibit a micro-porous architecture that delivers high current densities in alkaline media with exceptional stability over several weeks.

Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production via Water Splitting publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrocatalytic hydrogen production via water splitting across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electrocatalysis: Acceleration of electrochemical reactions at electrode surfaces using specialised catalysts.

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER): Cathodic process in water splitting where protons or water molecules gain electrons to form H₂.

Overpotential: Extra potential beyond the thermodynamic requirement needed to drive an electrochemical reaction at a given rate.

Tafel slope: Parameter indicating how current density increases with overpotential, reflecting reaction kinetics.

Turnover frequency (TOF): Number of reactant molecules converted to product per active site per unit time.

References

1. Recent progress and perspective on electrocatalysis in neutral media: Mechanisms, materials, and advanced characterizations. Interdisciplinary Materials (2024).
2. Efficient solar fuel production enabled by an iodide oxidation reaction on atomic layer deposited MoS2. Carbon Energy (2023).
3. Efficient hydrogen production on MoNi4 electrocatalysts with fast water dissociation kinetics. Nature Communications (2017).
4. A rhodium/silicon co-electrocatalyst design concept to surpass platinum hydrogen evolution activity at high overpotentials. Nature Communications (2016).
5. Improving plasma sprayed Raney-type nickel–molybdenum electrodes towards high-performance hydrogen evolution in alkaline medium. Scientific Reports (2020).
6. NiMo/CoMoO4 Heterostructure with Confined Oxygen Vacancy for Active and Durable Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. ACS Applied Energy Materials (2023).