This study presents an ultra-efficient and cost-effective platinum (Pt) nanomembrane electrocatalyst for sustainable hydrogen production. The Pt nanomembranes were synthesized using a polymer surface buckling-enabled exfoliation (PSBEE) method, resulting in a percolating network of distorted 2D Pt nanomembranes. These nanomembranes exhibit high efficiency, low cost, and good stability, making them a potential alternative to commercial Pt/C catalysts. The unique feature of the Pt nanomembranes is their heterogeneous elastic strain field, which results from lattice distortion, leading to significantly higher electrocatalytic efficiency compared to various forms of Pt electrocatalysts. The Pt nanomembranes are highly cost-effective, with a cost significantly lower than commercial Pt/C and comparable to non-noble metal electrocatalysts. The study also demonstrates that the PSBEE method can be used to produce other 2D metals at low costs, such as Au, Ag, Ti, and high entropy alloys. The Pt nanomembranes show excellent electrochemical stability and catalytic efficiency, with a low overpotential and high turnover frequency. The research provides a promising approach to develop highly efficient and cost-effective low-dimensional electrocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production.This study presents an ultra-efficient and cost-effective platinum (Pt) nanomembrane electrocatalyst for sustainable hydrogen production. The Pt nanomembranes were synthesized using a polymer surface buckling-enabled exfoliation (PSBEE) method, resulting in a percolating network of distorted 2D Pt nanomembranes. These nanomembranes exhibit high efficiency, low cost, and good stability, making them a potential alternative to commercial Pt/C catalysts. The unique feature of the Pt nanomembranes is their heterogeneous elastic strain field, which results from lattice distortion, leading to significantly higher electrocatalytic efficiency compared to various forms of Pt electrocatalysts. The Pt nanomembranes are highly cost-effective, with a cost significantly lower than commercial Pt/C and comparable to non-noble metal electrocatalysts. The study also demonstrates that the PSBEE method can be used to produce other 2D metals at low costs, such as Au, Ag, Ti, and high entropy alloys. The Pt nanomembranes show excellent electrochemical stability and catalytic efficiency, with a low overpotential and high turnover frequency. The research provides a promising approach to develop highly efficient and cost-effective low-dimensional electrocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production.