Photoelectrochemical production of disinfectants from seawater

Rui-Ting Gao, Zehua Gao, Nhat Truong Nguyen, Junxiang Chen, Xianhu Liu, Lei Wang () and Limin Wu ()
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Rui-Ting Gao: Inner Mongolia University
Zehua Gao: Inner Mongolia University
Nhat Truong Nguyen: Concordia University
Junxiang Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xianhu Liu: Zhengzhou University
Lei Wang: Inner Mongolia University
Limin Wu: Inner Mongolia University

Nature Sustainability, 2025, vol. 8, issue 6, 672-681

Abstract: Abstract Active chlorine, including HClO and ClO−, is one of the most extensively used disinfectants. However, it is mainly produced through energy-consuming three-step chlor-alkali electrolysis of saturated brine using Cl2 gases as intermediates. Here we report a photoelectrochemical synthetic pathway from natural seawater using a chloride-mediated NbClOx/BiVO4 photoanode. The photoanode presents an onset potential of 0.6 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (VRHE) and over 500 h of stability in seawater under one sun illumination. The faradaic efficiency and selectivity of hypochlorite are close to 100% at 1.2–1.8 VRHE with a yield of 119.9 ± 9 μmol cm−2 h−1 at 1.72 VRHE. Meanwhile, value-added products of Mg(OH)2 and CaCO3 are obtained on the cathode, accompanied by hydrogen production. Further analyses show that the present process reduces electricity consumption by 77.16% and CO2 emissions by 75.31%. Our findings suggest a strategy with combined safety, efficiency and economic feasibility for direct synthesis of active chlorine from seawater.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01530-y

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