Molybdate‐Modified NiOOH for Efficient Methanol‐Assisted Seawater Electrolysis

Abstract Seawater electrolysis holds great promise for sustainable, green hydrogen production but faces challenges of high overpotentials and competing chlorine evolution reaction (CER). Replacing the oxygen evolution reaction with the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) presents a compelling alternat...

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Main Authors: Zhen Li, Youbin Zheng, Wenhan Zu, Liang Dong, Lawrence Yoon Suk Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410911
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author Zhen Li
Youbin Zheng
Wenhan Zu
Liang Dong
Lawrence Yoon Suk Lee
author_facet Zhen Li
Youbin Zheng
Wenhan Zu
Liang Dong
Lawrence Yoon Suk Lee
author_sort Zhen Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Seawater electrolysis holds great promise for sustainable, green hydrogen production but faces challenges of high overpotentials and competing chlorine evolution reaction (CER). Replacing the oxygen evolution reaction with the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) presents a compelling alternative due to its lower anodic potential which mitigates the risk of CER. While NiOOH is known for its MOR activity, its performance is limited by sluggish non‐electrochemical kinetics and Cl‐induced degradation. Herein, a MoO42−‐modified NiOOH electrocatalyst is reported that significantly enhances MOR‐assisted seawater splitting efficiency. In situ leached MoO42− from the heterojunction optimizes methanol adsorption and facilitates proton migration, thereby accelerating the non‐electrochemical steps in MOR. Additionally, the adsorbed MoO42− effectively repels Cl−, protecting the electrodes from Cl−‐induced corrosion. The MOR‐assisted electrolyzer using NiMo||Ni(OH)2/NiMoO₄ requires only 1.312 V to achieve 10 mA cm−2, substantially lower than conventional alkaline seawater electrolysis (1.576 V). Furthermore, it demonstrates remarkable stability, sustaining high current densities (up to 1.0 A cm−2) for over 130 h. This work presents a promising strategy for designing high‐performance electrocatalysts for efficient and sustainable green hydrogen production from seawater.
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spelling doaj-art-dd98259ae3a54c71bdf53c0157fe6ebd2025-08-20T03:09:08ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-04-011214n/an/a10.1002/advs.202410911Molybdate‐Modified NiOOH for Efficient Methanol‐Assisted Seawater ElectrolysisZhen Li0Youbin Zheng1Wenhan Zu2Liang Dong3Lawrence Yoon Suk Lee4Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Research Institute for Smart Energy The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaKey Laboratory of Dielectric and Electrolyte Functional Material School of Resources and Materials Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao Qinhuangdao Hebei 066004 ChinaDepartment of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Research Institute for Smart Energy The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaKey Laboratory of Dielectric and Electrolyte Functional Material School of Resources and Materials Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao Qinhuangdao Hebei 066004 ChinaDepartment of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Research Institute for Smart Energy The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaAbstract Seawater electrolysis holds great promise for sustainable, green hydrogen production but faces challenges of high overpotentials and competing chlorine evolution reaction (CER). Replacing the oxygen evolution reaction with the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) presents a compelling alternative due to its lower anodic potential which mitigates the risk of CER. While NiOOH is known for its MOR activity, its performance is limited by sluggish non‐electrochemical kinetics and Cl‐induced degradation. Herein, a MoO42−‐modified NiOOH electrocatalyst is reported that significantly enhances MOR‐assisted seawater splitting efficiency. In situ leached MoO42− from the heterojunction optimizes methanol adsorption and facilitates proton migration, thereby accelerating the non‐electrochemical steps in MOR. Additionally, the adsorbed MoO42− effectively repels Cl−, protecting the electrodes from Cl−‐induced corrosion. The MOR‐assisted electrolyzer using NiMo||Ni(OH)2/NiMoO₄ requires only 1.312 V to achieve 10 mA cm−2, substantially lower than conventional alkaline seawater electrolysis (1.576 V). Furthermore, it demonstrates remarkable stability, sustaining high current densities (up to 1.0 A cm−2) for over 130 h. This work presents a promising strategy for designing high‐performance electrocatalysts for efficient and sustainable green hydrogen production from seawater.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410911anti‐corrosiondirect seawater electrolysismethanol electrooxidationmolybdate modulationnon‐electrochemical process
spellingShingle Zhen Li
Youbin Zheng
Wenhan Zu
Liang Dong
Lawrence Yoon Suk Lee
Molybdate‐Modified NiOOH for Efficient Methanol‐Assisted Seawater Electrolysis
Advanced Science
anti‐corrosion
direct seawater electrolysis
methanol electrooxidation
molybdate modulation
non‐electrochemical process
title Molybdate‐Modified NiOOH for Efficient Methanol‐Assisted Seawater Electrolysis
title_full Molybdate‐Modified NiOOH for Efficient Methanol‐Assisted Seawater Electrolysis
title_fullStr Molybdate‐Modified NiOOH for Efficient Methanol‐Assisted Seawater Electrolysis
title_full_unstemmed Molybdate‐Modified NiOOH for Efficient Methanol‐Assisted Seawater Electrolysis
title_short Molybdate‐Modified NiOOH for Efficient Methanol‐Assisted Seawater Electrolysis
title_sort molybdate modified niooh for efficient methanol assisted seawater electrolysis
topic anti‐corrosion
direct seawater electrolysis
methanol electrooxidation
molybdate modulation
non‐electrochemical process
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410911
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AT youbinzheng molybdatemodifiednioohforefficientmethanolassistedseawaterelectrolysis
AT wenhanzu molybdatemodifiednioohforefficientmethanolassistedseawaterelectrolysis
AT liangdong molybdatemodifiednioohforefficientmethanolassistedseawaterelectrolysis
AT lawrenceyoonsuklee molybdatemodifiednioohforefficientmethanolassistedseawaterelectrolysis