Dr. Jiang Renzheng and Team from School of Chemical Engineering Publish Research Findings in SusMat

Hydrogen is regarded as an ideal clean energy carrier thanks to its high energy density and zero carbon emissions. Water electrolysis driven by renewable power serves as the core approach for the sustainable production of green hydrogen. Integrating abundant seawater resources with renewable energy to develop direct seawater electrolysis technology for hydrogen production is of vital strategic significance for advancing energy structure transformation.

Nevertheless, this technology faces multiple challenges: the sluggish kinetics of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) limits energy efficiency; high-concentration chloride ions in seawater trigger the chlorine evolution reaction (CER), reducing reaction selectivity and causing electrode corrosion; bubble accumulation at high current densities hinders mass transfer and leads to catalyst deactivation. The development of anode materials with high activity, excellent stability, corrosion resistance and favorable mass transfer performance is the key to industrial application.

In this study, an in-situ hydrothermal method was adopted to construct amorphous FeNi phosphate nanosheet arrays directly on the surface of Fe@Ni foam current collectors. During electrolysis, the pre-catalyst undergoes in-situ reconstruction into highly active Ni(Fe)OOH. Combined with the superhydrophilic and superaerophobic properties of the electrode, mass transfer is strengthened, which greatly boosts seawater oxidation performance.

The multi-dimensional synergistic stabilization mechanisms of the electrode are as follows:

(1) The dynamic adsorption of phosphate ions forms an electrostatic barrier to repel chloride ions and restrain the chlorine evolution reaction;

(2) The dissolution and redeposition of ferric ions realize surface self-healing;

(3) The nickel coating protects the iron skeleton from corrosion;

(4) High oxygen evolution reaction selectivity fundamentally inhibits side reactions.

The above synergistic effects endow the electrode with outstanding seawater electrolysis performance, offering a novel material design strategy for large-scale green hydrogen production.

Figure. Schematic diagram of electrode synthesis and its stabilization mechanism for seawater electrolysis

On March 27, 2026, the relevant research outcomes were published in SusMat under the title Robust amorphous layer on Fe@Ni foam for highly efficient alkaline seawater oxidation under high current densities. Dr. Jiang Renzheng from Shenyang University of Chemical Technology is the first author. Professor Xu Guangwen and Professor Xie Yingpeng from Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, together with Researcher Wu Zhongshuai from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, serve as co-corresponding authors of the paper.