Progress in porous metal chalcogenides for electrocatalytic water splitting

Industry and everyday existence are undergoing an energy structure revolution, and hydrogen is a crucial clean alternative energy source. Both academics and businesses envision water electrolysis as a key procedure for green hydrogen generation in the future. In recent years, porous metal chalcogenides (PMChs), including metal sulfides, metal selenides, and metal tellurides, have gained significant interest as electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting due to their distinctive structure, characteristics, and potential applications. The PMChs exhibit extensive surface areas, varied compositions, and improved electronic conductivity, rendering them exceptionally suitable for electrochemical energy conversion devices with outstanding performance. This review showcases the production of diverse PMChs by several typical methods such as hydrothermal, spray pyrolysis, electrodeposition, liquid-phase deposition, template-based, and template-free synthesis. The article also comprehensively analyzes the most recent developments in the sulfides, selenides, and tellurides for electrocatalytic water splitting (EWS). The innovative design, production, and electrochemical performance of the porous sulfide, selenide, and telluride-based metal chalcogenides are demonstrated and evaluated. Finally, the existing challenges and potential opportunities of PMChs in EWS applications are presented. We anticipate that this timely assessment will encourage more comprehensive research and generate more significant interest, thereby enhancing the advancement of potential PMChs.