Self-protecting CoFeAl-layered double hydroxides enable stable and efficient brine oxidation at 2 A cm−2

Abstract

Abstract Low-energy consumption seawater electrolysis at high current density is an effective way for hydrogen production, however the continuous feeding of seawater may result in the accumulation of Cl−, leading to severe anode poisoning and corrosion, thereby compromising the activity and stability. Herein, CoFeAl layered double hydroxide anodes with excellent oxygen evolution reaction activity are synthesized and delivered stable catalytic performance for 350 hours at 2 A cm−2 in the presence of 6-fold concentrated seawater. Comprehensive analysis reveals that the Al3+ ions in electrode are etched off by OH− during oxygen evolution reaction process, resulting in M3+ vacancies that boost oxygen evolution reaction activity. Additionally, the self-originated Al(OH) n − is found to adsorb on the anode surface to improve stability. An electrode assembly based on a micropore membrane and CoFeAl layered double hydroxide electrodes operates continuously for 500 hours at 1 A cm−2, demonstrating their feasibility in brine electrolysis.