Recent advances in atomically precise metal nanocluster-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

With the rapid development of renewable energy technologies, electrochemical water splitting for the production of green hydrogen has emerged as a sustainable and efficient alternative to fossil fuels. Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs), with well-defined compositions and crystallographic structures, have recently gained attention as promising catalysts for highly efficient HER performance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in atomically precise metal NC electrocatalysts for the HER. Emphasis is given to the various strategies adopted for enhancing the performance of metal NCs, including core size tailoring, ligand-metal interactions, heteroatom incorporation, electronic modulation, and support-catalyst interfacial engineering, among others. Furthermore, this review offers a critical perspective on the existing challenges and future opportunities in the rational design of next-generation, high-performance HER electrocatalysts derived from metal NCs.