A review for MXene-based hybrid nanocomposites toward electro-/photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions

Abstract

Hydrogen is increasingly being considered a green energy source of the future, and there is wide-ranging research in various industries to implement green hydrogen production in different ways. Hydrogen can be produced by an electrolysis process involving a photocatalyst, but there is a need for more technical breakthroughs as well as the identification of a stable and active catalyst. Two-dimensional (2D) MXenes hold potential for commercial-scale expansion due to their excellent inherent physical and chemical properties and their structural flexibility. MXene base composites for hydrogen generation reactions have several advantages. One of the several factors for these is that the increase in the number of chemically active reaction sites is high because the specific surface area is increased. The high catalytic activities are directly related to the high amount of hydrogen produced due to superior optical properties. The present work aims to contribute to the design of a future promising catalyst by comprehensively summarizing and discussing the current state of synthesis methods, characterization and hydrogen generation methods based on the use of electrical catalysts and photocatalysts for the HER as well as the active characteristics of electrons. This review will describe current MXenes in terms of three categories: the method used to prepare the composites, the characterization of the composites for the HER performance, and the method of hydrogen production.