Advances in Biological Electrolytic Water Splitting for Hydrogen Production

Electrocatalytic water splitting stands as one of the most promising methods for producing clean and sustainable fuels from intermittent renewable energy sources. The strategic design of efficient electrocatalysts is crucial to achieving this goal. The versatility of hydrogen offers opportunities for large-scale, long-duration energy storage and industrial decarbonization. The term hydrogen carriers refers to molecules and materials capable of storing hydrogen at higher volumetric density than gaseous hydrogen. In the automotive sector, hydrogen can serve as a clean energy alternative to carbon-based fuels such as petroleum. However, the current practice of producing hydrogen from petroleum, coal, and natural gas is unsustainable. Utilizing solar energy, renewable hydrogen can be produced through processes such as pyrolysis, electrolysis, photolysis, and chemical decomposition of biomass. This article reviews the latest achievements and key milestones in the development of biomimetic catalysts in the field of water electrolysis. Compared to traditional catalysts, biomimetic electrocatalysts modeled on the structures of animals and plants exhibit unique surface wettability and efficient material/energy transfer characteristics. By leveraging the inherent structures and mechanisms of water enzymes and photosynthetic active sites according to specific application goals, the structure–activity relationship can be enhanced, thereby improving the electrochemical performance of enzyme-inspired catalysts in hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. In the field of water splitting, the most advanced biomimetic electrocatalysts have been developed through rational design, providing a blueprint for the next-generation hydrogen production platform.