Sign in Subscribe
Alloys

Breakthrough in Seawater Electrolysis: Laser-Induced Interface Engineering Enables Durable and Efficient Hydrogen Production

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Shandong University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of nanotechnology, successfully developing a laser-induced interface engineering strategy that enables efficient and durable seawater electrolysis. This innovation could have significant implications for sustainable hydrogen production and alleviate the constraints of chloride-induced corrosion and catalyst degradation in industrial current densities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research introduced a laser-induced interface engineering strategy to construct a 5 nm nonstoichiometric NiFeO nanolayer epitaxially grown on a NiFe alloy substrate.
  • The fabricated nanolayer functions as a multifunctional interface, selectively adsorbing OH ions through stable metal-oxygen (M-O) bonding, thereby suppressing Cl-driven surface degradation.
  • The NiFe with oxide layer (NiFe-OL) electrode achieved an overpotential of 238 mV at 10 mA cm in simulated seawater, showing a marked 84 mV reduction compared to the bare NiFe alloy electrode.
  • The research demonstrated a robust seawater electrolysis electrode, achieving stable operation for over 1000 h at 1 A cm in alkaline seawater, representing more than 25 times longer operational stability than the bare NiFe electrode.
  • The laser-formed functionally integrated oxide nanointerface delivered a distinctive combination of corrosion resistance and electrochemical kinetics.

Statistics:

  • The research achieved a remarkable 84 mV reduction in overpotential compared to the bare NiFe alloy electrode.
  • The NiFe with oxide layer (NiFe-OL) electrode maintained stable operation for over 1000 h at 1 A cm in alkaline seawater.
  • The bare NiFe electrode failed after only 20 h under identical conditions.
  • The laser-induced interface engineering strategy demonstrated a more than 25 times longer operational stability compared to the bare NiFe electrode.

Sources:

  • ACS Nano: "Laser-Induced NiFeOx Nanolayer Enables Durable and Efficient Seawater Electrolysis at Industrial Current Densities" (2025)
  • Shandong University: Yang Liu, et al., "Laser-Induced Interface Engineering for Seawater Electrolysis" (2025)
  • Journal of Engineering: NewsRx, "New Findings in Nanolayers Described from Shandong University" (Journal of Engineering, October 20, 2025, p 2229)

Read more