Dynamic Creation of a Local Acid-like Environment for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Natural Seawater

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dc.contributor.authorBao, D.
dc.contributor.authorHuang, L.
dc.contributor.authorGao, Y.
dc.contributor.authorDavey, K.
dc.contributor.authorZheng, Y.
dc.contributor.authorQiao, S.-Z.
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractElectrolysis of natural seawater driven by renewable energy is practically attractive for green hydrogen production. However, because precipitation initiated by an increase in local pH near to the cathode deactivates catalysts or blocks electrolyzer channels, limited catalysts are capable of operating with untreated, natural seawater (viz., pH 8.2 to 8.3 and ca. 35 g salts L–1); most are used in strongly alkaline or acidic seawater. Here, we report a new natural seawater electrolysis cathode with precipitation-suppression via a Pt/WO2 catalyst to create a dynamically local acid-like environment. The in situ formed hydrogen tungsten bronze (HxWOy) phase via continuous hydrogen insertion from water acts as a proton reservoir. As a result, dynamically stored protons create a local acid-like environment near the Pt active sites. We evidence that this tailored acid-like environment boosts the hydrogen evolution reaction in natural seawater splitting and neutralizes generated OH– species to restrict precipitation formations. Consequently, a long-term stability of >500 h at 100 mA cm2 was exhibited in direct seawater electrolysis.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityDeyu Bao, Linsen Huang, Yingjie Gao, Kenneth Davey, Yao Zheng, Shi-Zhang Qiao
dc.identifier.citationJournal of the American Chemical Society, 2024; 146(50):34711-34719
dc.identifier.doi10.1021/jacs.4c13036
dc.identifier.issn0002-7863
dc.identifier.issn1520-5126
dc.identifier.orcidGao, Y. [0000-0003-4617-8595]
dc.identifier.orcidDavey, K. [0000-0002-7623-9320]
dc.identifier.orcidZheng, Y. [0000-0002-2411-8041]
dc.identifier.orcidQiao, S.-Z. [0000-0002-1220-1761] [0000-0002-4568-8422]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/144055
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAmerican Chemical Society
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/CE230100032
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP230102027
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP240102575
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT200100062
dc.rightsCopyright © 2024 American Chemical Society
dc.source.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c13036
dc.subjectcatalysts; electrodes; evolution reactions; platinum; seawater
dc.titleDynamic Creation of a Local Acid-like Environment for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Natural Seawater
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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