Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2025

Tuning the Acidity of Pt/ CNTs Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Diphenyl Ether
Published on: August 17, 2019
Stabilizing NiFe active sites using a high-valent Lewis acid for selective seawater oxidation
Chenxi Liu1, Zefeng Teng1, Xu Liu1
1Key Laboratory of Eco-chemical Engineering, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco-chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao 266042 China.
None:
Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production harnesses renewable energy sources, contributing to sustainable development. However, competing anodic reactions, such as the chloride oxidation reaction (ClOR), can adversely affect the activity and stability of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, we propose a strategy that significantly enhances the OER activity and selectivity of NiFe-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) by incorporating chromium (Cr) (Cr-NiFeLDHs). The Cr-NiFeLDH anode demonstrates an impressive overpotential of only 349 mV at a current density of 1000 mA cm-2, outperforming RuO2 in industrial applications and maintaining stability for over 140 h in anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer tests. Quasi in situ characterization reveals that Cr doping activates the high valence states of Ni, Fe and Cr, enhancing the electron transfer and activity of OER performance. Furthermore, the high selectivity for OH- due to the hard Cr6+ Lewis acid effectively mitigates the competitive ClOR, a critical challenge in seawater electrolysis. This synergistic stabilization effect of high valence states fundamentally enhances the activity, selectivity, and stability of Cr-NiFeLDH anodes.
Related Concept Videos
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...
Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
As shown below, the mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen π bond along with the departure of a halide ion. A final proton transfer step yields carboxylic...
Leveling Effect
Reactivity of Enolate Ions
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview
The nitrous acid is unstable. Hence, it is formed in situ from a solution of sodium nitrite and cold aqueous acids such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. In an acidic solution, the –OH group of nitrous acid undergoes protonation to give oxonium ion, followed by...

