Photothermal-promoted anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis on a nickel-molybdenum-based catalyst

Abstract Exploring active, durable catalysts and utilizing external renewable energy sources offer notable opportunities for advancing seawater electrolysis. Here, a multifunctional NiMo-based catalyst (NiMo-H2) composed of bimetallic Ni0.91Mo0.09 nanoparticles on MoO2 nanorods is demonstrated for t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Libo Wu, Wanheng Lu, Wei Li Ong, Andrew See Weng Wong, Yuanming Zhang, Tianxi Zhang, Kaiyang Zeng, Zhifeng Ren, Ghim Wei Ho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58320-5
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850265227548950528
author Libo Wu
Wanheng Lu
Wei Li Ong
Andrew See Weng Wong
Yuanming Zhang
Tianxi Zhang
Kaiyang Zeng
Zhifeng Ren
Ghim Wei Ho
author_facet Libo Wu
Wanheng Lu
Wei Li Ong
Andrew See Weng Wong
Yuanming Zhang
Tianxi Zhang
Kaiyang Zeng
Zhifeng Ren
Ghim Wei Ho
author_sort Libo Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Exploring active, durable catalysts and utilizing external renewable energy sources offer notable opportunities for advancing seawater electrolysis. Here, a multifunctional NiMo-based catalyst (NiMo-H2) composed of bimetallic Ni0.91Mo0.09 nanoparticles on MoO2 nanorods is demonstrated for the alkaline seawater hydrogen evolution reaction. The alloying effect and the nanorod-nanoparticle structure endow this catalyst with high structural stability, rapid electron transfer, and a large surface area. The in situ-generated alloyed nanoparticles have notable light absorption and photothermal conversion capabilities, while the vertically grown nanorods suppress diffuse reflection, enabling efficient localized photoheating. Consequently, light irradiation boosts the catalyst’s activity and it works stably at a current density of 500 mA cm−2 in alkaline seawater. We then assemble the NiMo-H2||NiFe LDH pair in a photothermal anion exchange membrane electrolyzer, and it requires approximately 1.6 V to drive a current of 0.45 A, demonstrating robust durability in overall alkaline seawater electrolysis. This photothermal-promoted seawater electrolysis system shows notable potential for hydrogen production from seawater.
format Article
id doaj-art-7a2cd6bafa524cbd9f33abb3c4f0a592
institution OA Journals
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-7a2cd6bafa524cbd9f33abb3c4f0a5922025-08-20T01:54:30ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111510.1038/s41467-025-58320-5Photothermal-promoted anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis on a nickel-molybdenum-based catalystLibo Wu0Wanheng Lu1Wei Li Ong2Andrew See Weng Wong3Yuanming Zhang4Tianxi Zhang5Kaiyang Zeng6Zhifeng Ren7Ghim Wei Ho8Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of SingaporeFacility for Analysis Characterization Testing and Simulation (FACTS), Nanyang Technological UniversityDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston (TcSUH), University of HoustonDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of SingaporeAbstract Exploring active, durable catalysts and utilizing external renewable energy sources offer notable opportunities for advancing seawater electrolysis. Here, a multifunctional NiMo-based catalyst (NiMo-H2) composed of bimetallic Ni0.91Mo0.09 nanoparticles on MoO2 nanorods is demonstrated for the alkaline seawater hydrogen evolution reaction. The alloying effect and the nanorod-nanoparticle structure endow this catalyst with high structural stability, rapid electron transfer, and a large surface area. The in situ-generated alloyed nanoparticles have notable light absorption and photothermal conversion capabilities, while the vertically grown nanorods suppress diffuse reflection, enabling efficient localized photoheating. Consequently, light irradiation boosts the catalyst’s activity and it works stably at a current density of 500 mA cm−2 in alkaline seawater. We then assemble the NiMo-H2||NiFe LDH pair in a photothermal anion exchange membrane electrolyzer, and it requires approximately 1.6 V to drive a current of 0.45 A, demonstrating robust durability in overall alkaline seawater electrolysis. This photothermal-promoted seawater electrolysis system shows notable potential for hydrogen production from seawater.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58320-5
spellingShingle Libo Wu
Wanheng Lu
Wei Li Ong
Andrew See Weng Wong
Yuanming Zhang
Tianxi Zhang
Kaiyang Zeng
Zhifeng Ren
Ghim Wei Ho
Photothermal-promoted anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis on a nickel-molybdenum-based catalyst
Nature Communications
title Photothermal-promoted anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis on a nickel-molybdenum-based catalyst
title_full Photothermal-promoted anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis on a nickel-molybdenum-based catalyst
title_fullStr Photothermal-promoted anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis on a nickel-molybdenum-based catalyst
title_full_unstemmed Photothermal-promoted anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis on a nickel-molybdenum-based catalyst
title_short Photothermal-promoted anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis on a nickel-molybdenum-based catalyst
title_sort photothermal promoted anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis on a nickel molybdenum based catalyst
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58320-5
work_keys_str_mv AT libowu photothermalpromotedanionexchangemembraneseawaterelectrolysisonanickelmolybdenumbasedcatalyst
AT wanhenglu photothermalpromotedanionexchangemembraneseawaterelectrolysisonanickelmolybdenumbasedcatalyst
AT weiliong photothermalpromotedanionexchangemembraneseawaterelectrolysisonanickelmolybdenumbasedcatalyst
AT andrewseewengwong photothermalpromotedanionexchangemembraneseawaterelectrolysisonanickelmolybdenumbasedcatalyst
AT yuanmingzhang photothermalpromotedanionexchangemembraneseawaterelectrolysisonanickelmolybdenumbasedcatalyst
AT tianxizhang photothermalpromotedanionexchangemembraneseawaterelectrolysisonanickelmolybdenumbasedcatalyst
AT kaiyangzeng photothermalpromotedanionexchangemembraneseawaterelectrolysisonanickelmolybdenumbasedcatalyst
AT zhifengren photothermalpromotedanionexchangemembraneseawaterelectrolysisonanickelmolybdenumbasedcatalyst
AT ghimweiho photothermalpromotedanionexchangemembraneseawaterelectrolysisonanickelmolybdenumbasedcatalyst