Rational design of oxygen evolution reaction catalysts for seawater electrolysis

Water electrolysis provides a promising route to produce high energy density hydrogen. Compared with the limited amount of fresh water, seawater is an abundant resource that has attracted increasing attention for electrolysis. However, seawater electrolysis has thus far suffered from degraded activity and stability, and from low oxygen evolution reaction (OER) selectivity, due to the existence of chloride ions and insoluble solids in seawater. This short review summarizes trends in the rational design of OER catalysts, providing some effective strategies, including constructing 3D hierarchical porous structures, employing protective layers, and engineering surface wettability, to synthesize efficient and stable OER catalysts for seawater electrolysis. Finally, a perspective regarding designing high-performance catalysts for seawater electrolysis is also provided.

Automated summary

This review discusses the challenges and strategies for improving the efficiency and stability of seawater electrolysis, focusing on the design of OER catalysts. Various approaches such as constructing 3D hierarchical porous structures, using protective layers, and controlling surface wettability are recommended to synthesize efficient and stable OER catalysts. Additionally, the perspective of designing high-performance catalysts for seawater electrolysis is also provided.