Disclaimer: This summary is for informational purposes only. The original research was conducted by the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) and published in Applied Surface Science under DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2025.163534. Readers are encouraged to consult the original sources for full technical details.
Scientists at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) have developed a next-generation electrode that significantly improves the efficiency and durability of seawater electrolysis, a key process for producing green hydrogen. This advancement could play a crucial role in the global transition to renewable energy by enabling more cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production.
Innovative Electrode Design
The newly developed electrode is based on carbon cloth and incorporates a ruthenium-modified CoMoOx catalyst, requiring just 1% of precious metal by weight. This minimal use of expensive materials helps reduce overall costs while maintaining high catalytic performance.
Key performance highlights include:
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Enhanced hydrogen production: The electrode achieves 1.3 times higher efficiency compared to conventional methods.
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Long-term stability: It maintains consistent operation for over 800 hours under high-current conditions.
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Excellent corrosion resistance: The electrode prevents leaching of metal ions, even when exposed to corrosive seawater environments, ensuring safe and reliable operation.
Implications for Renewable Energy
This breakthrough addresses several challenges in scaling up hydrogen production from seawater, which is abundant and widely accessible. By improving both efficiency and durability, the technology supports the development of large-scale green hydrogen plants, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and helping meet global climate targets.
The innovation also aligns with efforts to make renewable energy technologies more cost-effective, providing a pathway for wider adoption of clean hydrogen in transportation, industry, and power generation.
The research was supported by the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST) under the Ministry of Science and ICT.