Efficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densities
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 constru...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47121-x |
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| author | Jie Liang Zhengwei Cai Zixiao Li Yongchao Yao Yongsong Luo Shengjun Sun Dongdong Zheng Qian Liu Xuping Sun Bo Tang |
| author_facet | Jie Liang Zhengwei Cai Zixiao Li Yongchao Yao Yongsong Luo Shengjun Sun Dongdong Zheng Qian Liu Xuping Sun Bo Tang |
| author_sort | Jie Liang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:38:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4d6d326ea6a45308eec36d4922ebfcb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:38:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4d6d326ea6a45308eec36d4922ebfcb2024-04-07T11:23:32ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-04-0115111410.1038/s41467-024-47121-xEfficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densitiesJie Liang0Zhengwei Cai1Zixiao Li2Yongchao Yao3Yongsong Luo4Shengjun Sun5Dongdong Zheng6Qian Liu7Xuping Sun8Bo Tang9College of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal UniversityCollege of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal UniversityInstitute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaInstitute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaInstitute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaCollege of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal UniversityCollege of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal UniversityInstitute for Advanced Study, Chengdu UniversityCollege of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal UniversityCollege of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal UniversityAbstract 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).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47121-x |
| spellingShingle | Jie Liang Zhengwei Cai Zixiao Li Yongchao Yao Yongsong Luo Shengjun Sun Dongdong Zheng Qian Liu Xuping Sun Bo Tang Efficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densities Nature Communications |
| title | Efficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densities |
| title_full | Efficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densities |
| title_fullStr | Efficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densities |
| title_short | Efficient bubble/precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial-level current densities |
| title_sort | efficient bubble precipitate traffic enables stable seawater reduction electrocatalysis at industrial level current densities |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47121-x |
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