Scientists Successfully Generate Green Hydrogen from Untreated Seawater

University of Adelaide Researchers Breakthrough in Green Hydrogen Production

A groundbreaking discovery has been made by a team of researchers led by Professor Shizhang Qiao and Associate Professor Yao Zheng from the University of Adelaide's School of Chemical Engineering. The team has successfully produced green hydrogen from seawater through electrolysis, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution for hydrogen production without the need for expensive pre-treatment processes or pure water.

The researchers used a non-precious and cheap catalyst, cobalt oxide with chromium oxide, in a commercial electrolyser. This innovative approach allows for the direct utilization of seawater without the need for pre-treatment systems and alkali addition, making the process particularly practical for regions with long coastlines and abundant sunlight.

Associate Professor Yao Zheng mentioned that the increased demand for hydrogen will lead to a scarcity of freshwater resources. By using seawater as a feedstock without any pre-treatment processes like reverse osmosis desalination, purification, or alkalisation, the team's work offers a sustainable solution to this growing problem.

Professor Qiao stated that they have achieved nearly 100% efficiency in splitting seawater into oxygen and hydrogen to produce green hydrogen. Remarkably, the performance of a commercial electrolyser with their catalysts running in seawater is close to the performance of platinum/iridium catalysts running in highly purified deionised water.

The team's research has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Energy on February 1, 2023. The researchers are now planning to work on scaling up the system for commercial processes like hydrogen generation for fuel cells and ammonia synthesis.

Seawater electrolysis is still in early development compared to pure water electrolysis due to electrode side reactions and corrosion. However, the University of Adelaide's team has taken a significant step forward in overcoming these challenges, paving the way for a more sustainable and cost-effective method of green hydrogen production.

The research team also includes Professor Kamarudin, who is leading the research on seawater splitting without pre-silvering for green hydrogen production at the University of Adelaide. The international team's work offers a promising solution for the future of renewable energy storage and production.

Associate Professor Yao Zheng, a researcher in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Adelaide, expressed optimism about the potential impact of their discovery. "This research opens up new possibilities for the production of green hydrogen, addressing the challenge of freshwater scarcity while contributing to a more sustainable future," he said.