A restricted dynamic surface self-reconstruction toward high-performance of direct seawater oxidation

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 2481
• Main Authors: Zhou, Ling, Guo, Daying, Wu, Lianhui, Guan, Zhixi, Zou, Chao, Jin, Huile, Fang, Guoyong, Chen, Xi’an, Wang, Shun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 20.03.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 140/133; 140/58; 147/135; 147/137; 147/143; 639/301/299/886; 639/638/77; Anodizing; Atomic layer epitaxy; Catalysts; Chlorine; Cobalt; Cobalt oxides; Composite materials; Electrocatalysts; Electrolysis; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrogen production; Molybdenum; Molybdenum oxides; multidisciplinary; Oxidation; Oxygen evolution reactions; Power consumption; Reconstruction; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seawater
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46708-8

The development of highly efficient electrocatalysts for direct seawater splitting with bifunctionality for inhibiting anodic oxidation reconstruction and selective oxygen evolution reactions is a major challenge. Herein, we report a direct seawater oxidation electrocatalyst that achieves long-term stability for more than 1000 h at 600 mA/cm 2 @η 600 and high selectivity (Faraday efficiency of 100%). This catalyst revolves an amorphous molybdenum oxide layer constructed on the beaded-like cobalt oxide interface by atomic layer deposition technology. As demonstrated, a new restricted dynamic surface self-reconstruction mechanism is induced by the formation a stable reconstructed Co-Mo double hydroxide phase interface layer. The device assembled into a two-electrode flow cell for direct overall seawater electrolysis maintained at 1 A/cm 2 @1.93 V for 500 h with Faraday efficiency higher than 95%. Hydrogen generation rate reaches 419.4 mL/cm 2 /h, and the power consumption (4.62 KWh/m 3 H 2 ) is lower than that of pure water (5.0 KWh/m 3 H 2 ) at industrial current density. Chlorine evolution reaction and deep reconstruction of catalyst are critical issues in direct seawater electrolysis. Here, the authors propose a MoO 3 /CoO/carbon composite material for improved selective seawater oxidation and restricted dynamic surface self-reconstruction.