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Recent Progress in Seawater Splitting Hydrogen Production Assisted by Value-Added Electrooxidation Reactions

Author

Listed:
  • Yuanping Guo

    (College of Chemistry and Environment Protection, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu 610041, China
    College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China)

  • Chenghao Yang

    (College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
    College of Materials and Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610065, China)

  • Jianli Yang

    (College of Chemistry and Environment Protection, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Xin Xiao

    (College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China)

  • Maofei Ran

    (College of Chemistry and Environment Protection, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Jing Li

    (College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China)

Abstract

Electrolysis of abundant seawater resources is a promising approach for hydrogen production. However, the high-concentration chloride ion in seawater readily induces the chlorine evolution reaction (CER), resulting in catalyst degradation and decreased electrolysis efficiency. In recent years, the electrooxidation of small organic molecules (e.g., methanol), biomass-derived compounds (e.g., 5-hydroxymethylfurfural), and plastic monomers (e.g., ethylene glycol) has been seen to occur at lower potentials to substitute for the traditional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and CER. This alternative approach not only significantly reduces energy consumption for hydrogen production but also generates value-added products at the anode. This review provides a comprehensive summary of research advancements in value-added electrooxidation reaction-assisted seawater hydrogen production technologies and emphasizes the underlying principles of various reactions and catalyst design methodologies. Finally, the current challenges in this field and potential future research directions are systematically discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanping Guo & Chenghao Yang & Jianli Yang & Xin Xiao & Maofei Ran & Jing Li, 2025. "Recent Progress in Seawater Splitting Hydrogen Production Assisted by Value-Added Electrooxidation Reactions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:12:p:3016-:d:1673380
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Soumaya Hajji & Nabila Allouche & Salem Bouri & Awad M. Aljuaid & Wafik Hachicha, 2021. "Assessment of Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers Using Multivariate Statistical Analyses and Hydrochemical Facies Evolution-Based Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Heping Xie & Zhiyu Zhao & Tao Liu & Yifan Wu & Cheng Lan & Wenchuan Jiang & Liangyu Zhu & Yunpeng Wang & Dongsheng Yang & Zongping Shao, 2022. "A membrane-based seawater electrolyser for hydrogen generation," Nature, Nature, vol. 612(7941), pages 673-678, December.
    3. Aubaid Ullah & Nur Awanis Hashim & Mohamad Fairus Rabuni & Mohd Usman Mohd Junaidi, 2023. "A Review on Methanol as a Clean Energy Carrier: Roles of Zeolite in Improving Production Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-35, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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