Department of Chemistry - PhD Student Seminar - Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: Fundamentals, Materials, and Industrial Developments
Supporting the below United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:支持以下聯合國可持續發展目標：支持以下联合国可持续发展目标：
Student: Mr. Yiming RAO
Department: Department of Chemistry, HKUST
Supervisor: Prof. Jianwei SUN
Co-supervisor: Prof. Benzhong TANG
Abstract
The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is the cathodic half-reaction of water electrolysis and lies at the heart of sustainable green hydrogen production. This seminar provides a comprehensive overview of HER, spanning from fundamental principles to industrial implementation. We begin with the reaction mechanisms and the Sabatier principle, rationalized through a descriptor-based framework. Subsequently, we survey the HER electrocatalysts, including noble metals, non-noble metals and their alloys, transition metal compounds, and metal-free materials, with an emphasis on design strategies for enhanced performance. Finally, we discuss the major industrial electrolyzer technologies, key economic challenges, and future outlooks for cost-effective green hydrogen production.