Recent progress on transition metal-based amorphous ribbons as electrocatalysts for water splitting

Recent advancements in electrocatalysis have highlighted the exceptional application value of amorphous electrocatalysts. With their unique atomic configurations, these electrocatalysts exhibit superior catalytic performance compared to that of their crystalline counterparts. Transition metal (TM) amorphous ribbon-shaped electrocatalysts have recently emerged as a new frontier in the catalysis field. Dealloying is widely considered a fascinating method for enhancing the electrocatalyst performance. In this review, we comprehensively examine the principles of water electrolysis, discuss the prevalent methods for fabricating ribbon-configured electrocatalysts, and provide an overview of amorphous alloys. Furthermore, we discuss binary, ternary, and high-entropy amorphous TM-based electrocatalysts, which satisfy the requirements necessary for effective water electrolysis. We also propose strategies to enhance the activity of amorphous TM-based ribbons, including morphology control, defect engineering, composition optimization, and heterostructure creation in different electrolytes. Our focus extends to the latest developments in the design of heterogeneous micro/nanostructures, management of preparation techniques, and synthesis of different compositions. Finally, we address the ongoing challenges and provide a perspective on the future development of broadly applicable, self-supporting TM ribbon-shaped electrocatalysts.