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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
09:18
Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications
Published on: June 21, 2017
From Lab to Ocean: Multiscale Design of Electrocatalysts for Practical Seawater Splitting Applications.
Mingxia Gao1, Siya Liu1, Weiying Wu1
1Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China.
Chemsuschem
|June 10, 2026
Summary
Direct seawater electrolysis (DSE) offers a sustainable path to green hydrogen production, overcoming freshwater limitations. This review highlights multi-level strategies for overcoming challenges in real ocean conditions for practical DSE applications.
Area of Science:
- Energy Science
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Green hydrogen is crucial for achieving carbon peak and neutrality targets.
- Freshwater scarcity limits conventional water electrolysis, driving interest in direct seawater electrolysis (DSE).
- Seawater's complexity presents challenges like corrosion, precipitation, and membrane fouling for DSE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of direct seawater electrolysis (DSE) beyond just electrocatalysts.
- To emphasize multi-level synergistic strategies for addressing DSE challenges under realistic marine conditions.
- To establish a four-dimensional evaluation framework for DSE systems.
Main Methods:
- Systematic elucidation of reaction competition and ion interactions in DSE.
- Analysis of interfacial microenvironment evolution in DSE systems.
- Cross-scale summary of catalysts, membranes, and electrolyzers for DSE.
Main Results:
- Identified key challenges in DSE including chloride corrosion, metal precipitation, and membrane fouling.
- Highlighted the importance of multi-level synergy across materials, interfaces, devices, and marine environments.
- Reviewed recent kW-to-MW demonstrations validating the technical feasibility of DSE.
Conclusions:
- Direct seawater electrolysis (DSE) is a viable and promising technology for green hydrogen production.
- Addressing multi-level challenges and optimizing interfacial phenomena are critical for practical DSE.
- Integrating DSE with offshore renewables and marine resources will accelerate its adoption and contribute to carbon neutrality.
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