Prevention of Cathodic Precipitation in Seawater Electrolysis: From Mechanistic Insights to Advanced Mitigation Strategies
ABSTRACT The global demand for clean, sustainable, and scalable energy solutions has positioned hydrogen as a key alternative fuel. Seawater electrolysis offers a promising pathway for green hydrogen production. However, the process faces significant challenges, particularly the formation of insoluble precipitates such as CaCO 3 and Mg(OH) 2 , which hinder the efficiency, durability, and scalability of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from seawater. This review not only systematically summarizes recent progress but also proposes a synergistic design paradigm (materials‐interface‐system) for cathode protection. By bridging fundamental mechanisms to scalable solutions, we aim to provide a definitive guide for accelerating the development of reliable, sustainable seawater electrolysis systems, ultimately unlocking the vast potential of the ocean for a green hydrogen economy.
Authors
- Xiaolin Liao
- Hicham Meskher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6097-9439)
- Abebe Reda Woldu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8927-1602)
- Qian Hu
- Liangsheng Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4133-2090)
- Fushen Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3323-7181)
Institutions
- Shantou University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Published
- 2026-05-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.75602
- Primary Topic
- Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Special Fund Project for Science and Technology Innovation Strategy of Guangdong Province
- Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province