Publication date: 26th March 2026
The sustainable production of hydrogen via water electrolysis is pivotal to the global transition toward carbon-neutral energy systems. Yet, the dependence on high-purity water remains a critical bottleneck, especially in regions facing freshwater scarcity. Low-grade water sources such as seawater, wastewater, and industrial effluents, offer a vastly abundant alternative, but their complex compositions present major electrochemical and materials challenges, particularly at the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) anode.
In this presentation, I will give an overview of our recent advances in engineering highly selective and robust oxygen anodes tailored for low-grade water electrolysis. Our work centers on the rational design of transition metal catalysts modified through dopant incorporation, surface reconstruction, and nanoscale interface engineering. These strategies enhance not only intrinsic OER activity but also suppress competitive parasitic reactions such as chlorine evolution, which is prevalent in chloride-rich environments. Using a combination of structural and electrochemical analysis, we elucidate the fundamental structure–property relationships that dictate selectivity and long-term stability. We also present performance benchmarks in both synthetic and real-world low-grade water matrices, demonstrating high Faradaic efficiency, low overpotential, and operational durability over extended periods. Our findings lay a framework for the next generation of water electrolyzers capable of operating efficiently in non-ideal conditions, with direct implications for decentralized hydrogen production, wastewater valorization, and coastal energy systems. By advancing selective anode design, we move closer to a truly scalable and sustainable hydrogen economy that is not constrained by water purity.
This work received funding by European Union Horizon 2020 FlowPhotoChem project (Grant agreement number 862453), and was partially funded by European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme ANEMEL project (Grant agreement number 101071111).
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