Efficient Electrolyzer Catalyst for Superior Seawater Hydrogen Production
Key Ideas
  • Development of WC-RuV electrocatalyst enhances seawater electrolysis efficiency and stability by weakening OH* transfer and attenuating hydroxide formation.
  • Achieved ultralow overpotential and long-term stability at 100 mA cm-2 with WC-RuV cathode material in simulated seawater electrolytes.
  • Assembled WC-RuV||RuO2 AEM electrolyzer allows continuous operation with solar panel power, providing a feasible strategy for green hydrogen production.
The article discusses the development of an efficient and robust electrocatalyst, WC-RuV, for superior seawater electrolysis to produce hydrogen. Traditional freshwater electrolysis faces challenges due to low activity and stability issues in seawater electrolysis caused by insoluble hydroxides and chloride species. The WC-RuV catalyst overcomes these challenges by engineering oxophilic vanadium and deprotonated ruthenium atoms on tungsten carbide, enhancing the cathode material's activity and anti-poisoning properties. By weakening the interaction between generated OH* and Ru sites, the catalyst facilitates the OH* transfer process, reducing hydroxide formation. In simulated seawater electrolytes, WC-RuV shows ultralow overpotential and maintains high stability even at 200 mA cm-2. The assembled WC-RuV||RuO2 anion exchange membrane electrolyzer achieves long-term stability at 100 mA cm-2 and operates continuously using solar panel power. This work provides a promising strategy for improving water dissociation processes and designing high-performance catalysts for efficient seawater electrolysis, crucial for green hydrogen production and the future hydrogen economy.
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