Development strategies in transition metal carbide for hydrogen evolution reaction: A review

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering Vol. 37; no. 8; pp. 1317 - 1330
• Main Authors: Jun, Hyunwoo, Kim, Seongbeen, Lee, Jinwoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2020; Springer Nature B.V; 한국화학공학회
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Catalysis; Catalytic activity; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electrical resistivity; Electrocatalysts; Electrolysis; Heterostructures; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Hydrogen production; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Invited Review Paper; Materials Science; Metal carbides; Phase control; Platinum; Transition metals; 화학공학; Heterostructure; Phase Control; Inorganic-organic Complex; Carbon Support; Heteroatom Doping
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-020-0612-4

Economically viable hydrogen production by water electrolysis requires an inexpensive and efficient electrocatalyst Transition metal carbides (TMCs) have many merits such as low price, platinum-like catalytic activity, high physical stability, and electrical conductivity. This review presents strategies for improving the catalytic activity of TMCs. It highlights synthesis using nanostructuring by inorganic-organic complexes and carbon supports to increase the number of active sites and to facilitate mass transport, and modification of electronic configuration by heteroatom doping, heterostructure, and phase control to increase intrinsic activity. The review concludes with an outlook on challenges to achieving practical TMC catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction.