Bionic electrode materials and applications in seawater electrolysis

Bionic electrode materials draw on the efficient catalytic and anti-corrosion mechanisms of nature to improve the performance of hydrogen and oxygen evolution and electrode stability during seawater electrolysis. For example, by imitating the ion channel structure of electric eels, the ion diffusion path of the catalyst is optimized through the nano-confinement strategy to improve the activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). At the same time, by drawing on the layered structure of nacre and abalone shell, electrodes with superhydrophobic-superhydrophilic heterogeneous interfaces are constructed to reduce bubble retention during electrolysis and improve reaction efficiency. In addition, based on the principle of biomineralization, self-healing electrode materials that are resistant to seawater corrosion are developed to inhibit chloride ion corrosion and improve the long-term stability of the electrode. The research on biomimetic electrode materials is expected to promote the development of low-energy and corrosion-resistant seawater electrolysis hydrogen production technology, and provide a feasible path for the utilization of marine resources and green hydrogen production.