Stabilizing NiFe sites by high-dispersity of nanosized and anionic Cr species toward durable seawater oxidation.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39103352.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-51130-1 and PMC identifier 11300586.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Electrocatalytic H<sub>2</sub> production from seawater, recognized as a promising technology utilizing offshore renewables, faces challenges from chloride-induced reactions and corrosion. Here, We introduce a catalytic surface where OH<sup>-</sup> dominates over Cl<sup>-</sup> in adsorption and activation, which is crucial for O<sub>2</sub> production. Our NiFe-based anode, enhanced by nearby Cr sites, achieves low overpotentials and selective alkaline seawater oxidation. It outperforms the RuO<sub>2</sub> counterpart in terms of lifespan in scaled-up stacks, maintaining stability for over 2500 h in three-electrode tests. Ex situ/in situ analyses reveal that Cr(III) sites enrich OH<sup>-</sup>, while Cl<sup>-</sup> is repelled by Cr(VI) sites, both of which are well-dispersed and close to NiFe, enhancing charge transfer and overall electrode performance. Such multiple effects fundamentally boost the activity, selectively, and chemical stability of the NiFe-based electrode. This development marks a significant advance in creating durable, noble-metal-free electrodes for alkaline seawater electrolysis, highlighting the importance of well-distributed catalytic sites.