Dynamic construction of a durable epitaxial catalytic layer for industrial alkaline water splitting

Bin Chang, Xiaoyan Liu, Shouwei Zuo, Yuanfu Ren, Jietong He, Daqing Wang, Yongjiu Lei, Miao Hu, Wan-Lu Li, Mohd Adnan Khan, Rashed Aleisa, Riming Hu, Yang Hou, Hong Liu, Weijia Zhou (), Zhiping Lai, Husam N. Alshareef and Huabin Zhang ()
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Bin Chang: University of Jinan
Xiaoyan Liu: University of Jinan
Shouwei Zuo: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Yuanfu Ren: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Jietong He: University of Jinan
Daqing Wang: Kowloon
Yongjiu Lei: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Miao Hu: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Wan-Lu Li: University of California San Diego
Mohd Adnan Khan: Saudi Aramco Research and Development Center
Rashed Aleisa: Saudi Aramco Research and Development Center
Riming Hu: University of Jinan
Yang Hou: Zhejiang University
Hong Liu: University of Jinan
Weijia Zhou: University of Jinan
Zhiping Lai: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Husam N. Alshareef: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Huabin Zhang: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Optimizing the catalyst-electrolyte interface structure is crucial for enhancing the performance of electrochemical alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. Traditional approaches typically focus on regulating the thermodynamic barriers of adsorption and desorption for reactants, intermediates, and ions at active sites on the solid electrode surface. However, the structure of the electrical double layer influences the concentration of intermediates, adsorption energy, and surface reaction kinetics. Here, we dynamically construct a dense epitaxial hydroxide layer on nickel molybdate, forming an effective protective barrier to prevent molybdenum leaching and enhance material stability. This optimization enhances local electric field increasing the concentration of hydrated potassium ions within the outer Helmholtz plane. As a result, the interfacial hydrogen-bond network improves, water availability on the catalyst surface increases, and reaction kinetics accelerate. The optimized material operates stably for 1400 h at a current density of 0.45 A cm−2 in an industrial alkaline electrolyzer. Our dual-optimization strategy of dynamically constructing an epitaxial catalytic layer offers valuable insights for developing stable, high-current-density electrocatalytic materials.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63361-x

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