Recent advances in ultrafast Joule heating-driven catalyst synthesis for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Hydrogen (H₂) has been regarded as a promising clean energy carrier to address the shortage and pollution of fossil energy. Among various hydrogen generation pathways, electrocatalytic water splitting has become the most promising technology to realize large-scale hydrogen production using renewable energy. The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is an important half-reaction of water splitting. The researchers are dedicated to enhancing the activity of HER and reducing the usage of precious metals through catalyst engineering. Joule heating technology has demonstrated exceptional advantages in synthesizing electrocatalytic catalysts in recent years. This technique endows unique physicochemical properties and precise regulation of catalysts, owing to its high-density electronic flow through materials, flash heating/cooling, and high-energy efficiency. This review comprehensively introduces the fundamentals and unique advantages. Additionally, the advancements of Joule heating in synthesizing HER electrocatalysts (element-doped, high-entropy alloy, single-atom, and heterointerface) and the mechanistic roles of Joule heating in modulating catalyst architecture and performance are summarized and discussed. Finally, some suggestions for future development directions are given. It is expected to provide valuable guidelines for the rational design and Joule heating-driven synthesis of high-activity electrocatalysts.