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A sodium-ion-conducted asymmetric electrolyzer to lower the operation voltage for direct seawater electrolysis

Author

Listed:
  • Hao Shi

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Tanyuan Wang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Jianyun Liu

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Weiwei Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shenzhou Li

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Jiashun Liang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Shuxia Liu

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Xuan Liu

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Zhao Cai

    (China University of Geosciences (Wuhan))

  • Chao Wang

    (Tongji University)

  • Dong Su

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yunhui Huang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Lior Elbaz

    (Bar-Ilan University)

  • Qing Li

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Hydrogen produced from neutral seawater electrolysis faces many challenges including high energy consumption, the corrosion/side reactions caused by Cl-, and the blockage of active sites by Ca2+/Mg2+ precipitates. Herein, we design a pH-asymmetric electrolyzer with a Na+ exchange membrane for direct seawater electrolysis, which can simultaneously prevent Cl- corrosion and Ca2+/Mg2+ precipitation and harvest the chemical potentials between the different electrolytes to reduce the required voltage. In-situ Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal that water dissociation can be promoted with a catalyst based on atomically dispersed Pt anchored to Ni-Fe-P nanowires with a reduced energy barrier (by 0.26 eV), thus accelerating the hydrogen evolution kinetics in seawater. Consequently, the asymmetric electrolyzer exhibits current densities of 10 mA cm−2 and 100 mA cm−2 at voltages of 1.31 V and 1.46 V, respectively. It can also reach 400 mA cm−2 at a low voltage of 1.66 V at 80 °C, corresponding to the electricity cost of US$1.36 per kg of H2 ($0.031/kW h for the electricity bill), lower than the United States Department of Energy 2025 target (US$1.4 per kg of H2).

Suggested Citation

  • Hao Shi & Tanyuan Wang & Jianyun Liu & Weiwei Chen & Shenzhou Li & Jiashun Liang & Shuxia Liu & Xuan Liu & Zhao Cai & Chao Wang & Dong Su & Yunhui Huang & Lior Elbaz & Qing Li, 2023. "A sodium-ion-conducted asymmetric electrolyzer to lower the operation voltage for direct seawater electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-39681-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39681-1
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    3. Wei Liu & Jiage Yu & Tianshui Li & Shihang Li & Boyu Ding & Xinlong Guo & Aiqing Cao & Qihao Sha & Daojin Zhou & Yun Kuang & Xiaoming Sun, 2024. "Self-protecting CoFeAl-layered double hydroxides enable stable and efficient brine oxidation at 2 A cm−2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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