journal article·2025-02Open access

Ultra‐Durable Solar‐Driven Seawater Electrolysis for Sustainable Hydrogen Production

Zhaolong Wang, Ciwei Wu, Xiaolong Wang, Mingzhu Xie, Yinfeng Li, Ziheng Zhan, Yong Shuai

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 35· Issue 9

Abstract

Abstract Ions in seawater hinder direct sewage electrolysis due to the extreme corrosion of Cl− to the anode and reaction of Mg2+ and Ca2+ on the cathode producing solid substances, which reduce the electrolytic efficiency. However, traditional desalination consuming fossil fuel with massive CO2 emissions threatens human survival. Therefore, zero‐carbon emission, ultra‐durable, large‐scale production of freshwater from seawater for water electrolysis is urgently needed. Herein, a multifunctional system for seawater is demonstrated electrolysis based on ultra‐durable solar desalination outdoors. The solar evaporators reach an evaporation flux of 1.88 kg m−2 h−1 with a photothermal conversion efficiency of solar energy as high as 91.3% with excellent ultra‐durable salt resistance even for saturated saltwater due to the Marangoni effects. Moreover, the condensation of pure water from solar desalination based on the evaporation system reaches 0.54 L m−2 h−1 outdoors, which is suitable for a 20 cm × 20 cm engineered electrode equipped with a Janus membrane powered by a solar panel to produce H2 outdoors. The ultrafast unidirectional transport of H2 bubbles enabled by Janus membranes can greatly improve the H2 production efficiency at a rate approaching 85 mL h−1 for continuous 24 h outdoors.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems · Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods · Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Energy Science and Engineering Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin 150001 P. R. China

College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China

School of Intelligent Manufacturing Jiangnan University Wuxi 214122 P. R. China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province

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