Efficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densities

Jie Liang, Zhengwei Cai, Zixiao Li, Yongchao Yao, Yongsong Luo, Shengjun Sun, Dongdong Zheng, Qian Liu, Xuping Sun () and Bo Tang ()
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Jie Liang: Shandong Normal University
Zhengwei Cai: Shandong Normal University
Zixiao Li: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Yongchao Yao: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Yongsong Luo: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Shengjun Sun: Shandong Normal University
Dongdong Zheng: Shandong Normal University
Qian Liu: Chengdu University
Xuping Sun: Shandong Normal University
Bo Tang: Shandong Normal University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Seawater electroreduction is attractive for future H2 production and intermittent energy storage, which has been hindered by aggressive Mg2+/Ca2+ precipitation at cathodes and consequent poor stability. Here we present a vital microscopic bubble/precipitate traffic system (MBPTS) by constructing honeycomb-type 3D cathodes for robust anti-precipitation seawater reduction (SR), which massively/uniformly release small-sized H2 bubbles to almost every corner of the cathode to repel Mg2+/Ca2+ precipitates without a break. Noticeably, the optimal cathode with built-in MBPTS not only enables state-of-the-art alkaline SR performance (1000-h stable operation at –1 A cm−2) but also is highly specialized in catalytically splitting natural seawater into H2 with the greatest anti-precipitation ability. Low precipitation amounts after prolonged tests under large current densities reflect genuine efficacy by our MBPTS. Additionally, a flow-type electrolyzer based on our optimal cathode stably functions at industrially-relevant 500 mA cm−2 for 150 h in natural seawater while unwaveringly sustaining near-100% H2 Faradic efficiency. Note that the estimated price (~1.8 US$/kgH2) is even cheaper than the US Department of Energy’s goal price (2 US$/kgH2).

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47121-x

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