The article discusses the potential of transition-metal carbides, particularly molybdenum, as catalysts for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Despite their promise, challenges arise due to oxide terminations forming on the metal carbides during synthesis and catalysis. The oxide terminations can compromise the HER activity of molybdenum carbides in alkaline mediums. To address this issue, the article explores the introduction of Al3+ atoms into molybdenum carbides to stabilize the oxide terminations and enhance their performance in alkaline electrolytes. The Al3+ doping creates abundant bridging hydroxyl species that act as strong Brønsted acid sites, inhibiting alkaline-leaching behavior and boosting local proton activity for hydrogen production. This approach shows promise for achieving highly active and stable HER processes in alkaline electrolytes. By utilizing model-catalyst systems that bridge theory and practical catalysis, researchers aim to gain insights into improving the efficiency of hydrogen production in alkaline conditions.