Biomass-derived waste materials as an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Hydrogen is progressively recognized as a clean, carbon-neutral energy carrier capable of supporting sustainable energy schemes. Water electrolysis offers an effective route for hydrogen production; nevertheless, its efficiency is largely governed by the catalytic performance of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this context, biomass waste has emerged as an abundant, low-cost, and renewable resource for the development of high-performance electrocatalysts, while at the same time addressing demanding waste management challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of HER mechanisms, biomass conversion techniques, catalyst synthesis strategies, and performance evaluation methods for waste-derived electrocatalysts. The electrocatalytic performance of various biomass-derived systems is associated with establishing structure-activity relationships. Despite significant progress, challenges remain, including limited intrinsic activity, stability issues, and scalability constraints. To address these limitations, future directions such as advanced catalyst design and sustainable synthesis strategies are proposed. These advancements are expected to encourage the development of efficient, low-cost, and environmentally friendly electrocatalysts for practical hydrogen production.