Emerging materials and technologies for electrocatalytic seawater splitting

Huanyu Jin; Jun Xu; Hao Liu; Haifeng Shen; Huimin Yu; Mietek Jaroniec; Yao Zheng; Shi-Zhang Qiao

doi:10.1126/sciadv.adi7755

journal article Open Access Oct 20, 2023

Emerging materials and technologies for electrocatalytic seawater splitting

Huanyu Jin

Science Advances Vol. 9 No. 42 · American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

View at Publisher Save 10.1126/sciadv.adi7755

Abstract

The limited availability of freshwater in renewable energy-rich areas has led to the exploration of seawater electrolysis for green hydrogen production. However, the complex composition of seawater presents substantial challenges such as electrode corrosion and electrolyzer failure, calling into question the technological and economic feasibility of direct seawater splitting. Despite many efforts, a comprehensive overview and analysis of seawater electrolysis, including electrochemical fundamentals, materials, and technologies of recent breakthroughs, is still lacking. In this review, we systematically examine recent advances in electrocatalytic seawater splitting and critically evaluate the obstacles to optimizing water supply, materials, and devices for stable hydrogen production from seawater. We demonstrate that robust materials and innovative technologies, especially selective catalysts and high-performance devices, are critical for efficient seawater electrolysis. We then outline and discuss future directions that could advance the techno-economic feasibility of this emerging field, providing a roadmap toward the design and commercialization of materials that can enable efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable seawater electrolysis.

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References

Details

Published: Oct 20, 2023
Vol/Issue: 9(42)

Authors

H

Huanyu Jin

School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.; Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

J

Jun Xu

School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

H

Hao Liu

School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

H

Haifeng Shen

School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

H

Huimin Yu

Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Adelaide, SA 5095, Australia.

M

Mietek Jaroniec

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.

Y

Yao Zheng

School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

S

Shi-Zhang Qiao

School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

Cite This Article

Huanyu Jin, Jun Xu, Hao Liu, et al. (2023). Emerging materials and technologies for electrocatalytic seawater splitting. Science Advances, 9(42). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adi7755

Emerging materials and technologies for electrocatalytic seawater splitting

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