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Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
Published on: March 10, 2023
Formate-Anion-Induced Water Network Reshaping Enables Concurrent Hydrogen and Magnesium Hydroxide Production From
Lili Guo1,2, Fahao Sun1, Fuwei Zheng1,3
1Key Laboratory of Eco-Chemical Engineering, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco-Chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, P.R. China.
Grafting formate groups onto NiFe2O4 spinel enhances direct seawater electrolysis for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by improving water dissociation and preventing catalyst precipitation. This innovation enables efficient, low-cost hydrogen production and valuable co-products from seawater.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Direct seawater electrolysis faces challenges with high energy demands for water dissociation.
- Catalyst surface precipitation hinders efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance direct seawater electrolysis for HER by modifying NiFe2O4 spinel.
- To address catalyst deactivation caused by Ca2+/Mg2+ precipitation.
Main Methods:
- Grafting formate groups onto NiFe2O4 spinel surface (NiFe2O4─HCOO−).
- Investigating the disruption of the hydrogen-bond network at the outer Helmholtz plane.
- Evaluating catalyst performance in alkaline seawater and anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers.
Main Results:
- NiFe2O4─HCOO− demonstrated efficient water dissociation and enhanced HER.
- Disrupted hydrogen-bond network reduced interfacial tension, enabling self-cleaning and precipitate removal.
- Achieved -1.0 A cm−2 at 435 mV in alkaline seawater with >1000 h stability.
- Confirmed technical feasibility for simultaneous electrosynthesis of magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen.
Conclusions:
- Formate-functionalized NiFe2O4 spinel offers a dual function for sustained seawater electrolysis.
- The developed catalyst enables low-cost hydrogen production and valuable co-product generation.
- This approach confirms the technical feasibility of utilizing natural seawater for energy and chemical production.
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