Recent progress in seawater electrolysis for hydrogen evolution by transition metal phosphides

The electrocatalytic seawater splitting has become an important and necessary way for large-scale hydrogen production with challenges ahead. In this review, a brief introduction to the reaction mechanism of seawater electrocatalytic process is first provided, including the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction and the anodic oxygen evolution reaction, as well as the competitive chloride evolution reaction. Recent progress in transition metal phosphides-based catalysts for seawater electrolysis, such as phosphorus doped transition metals, binary metal phosphides, and structural engineering are then evaluated and discussed. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of transition metal phosphides are proposed and discussed.