Chung-Ang University has developed a breakthrough in sustainable hydrogen production from seawater using chloride-resistant Ru nanocatalysts for direct electrolysis.

The crystalline/amorphous Ru heterostructure exhibits 37 times higher activity than commercial Pt catalysts in alkaline water electrolysis, enabling cost-effective hydrogen generation.

This approach enhances energy security, reduces fossil fuel dependence, accelerates decarbonisation across various sectors, and paves the way for scalable, sustainable hydrogen infrastructure.

The growing global demand for clean energy and climate change concerns have intensified the search for sustainable alternatives.

Hydrogen is a promising solution due to its high energy density and zero-carbon emissions.

Alkaline water electrolysis is efficient and environmentally friendly, but its dependence on freshwater limits large-scale implementation.

Seawater electrolysis offers a practical alternative by tapping Earth’s abundant water resources but contains high chloride concentrations that accelerate catalyst corrosion and reduce efficiency.

A research team led by Assistant Professor Haeseong Jang and Professor Xien Liu aimed to develop a robust and cost-effective electrocatalyst capable of high-performance hydrogen evolution in saline environments.

They employed a g-C3N4-mediated pyrolysis strategy to synthesise nitrogen-doped carbon-supported Ru nanoclusters with a crystalline–amorphous heterostructure (a/c-Ru@NC).

The crystalline–amorphous heterostructure synergistically combines abundant active sites with optimised electron transport, while the nitrogen-doped carbon support prevents Ru oxidation and agglomeration.

The overall design provides exceptional chloride-corrosion resistance, enabling cost-effective, scalable hydrogen production directly from seawater.

Prof Liu emphasises that this breakthrough enables seawater electrolysis for direct hydrogen production from seawater using chloride-resistant catalysts, opening up vast oceanic resources for clean energy generation.

The enhanced alkaline water electrolysis systems demonstrate remarkable economic viability with 37-fold higher mass activity compared to commercial Pt catalysts, making hydrogen production significantly more cost-effective.

By enabling efficient and durable seawater electrolysis, this study provides a blueprint for sustainable hydrogen generation from abundant oceanic resources, paving the way for large-scale, green hydrogen infrastructure.