Recent advances in nickel-based catalysts for alkaline seawater electrolysis: Oxygen evolution, hybrid anodic reactions and electrolyzer integration
Abstract
Seawater electrolysis offers a promising route for sustainable hydrogen production by reducing reliance on freshwater resources. However, its practical implementation remains limited by the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction at the anode, the competing chlorine oxidation reaction (ClOR) and electrode corrosion under high current densities. Nickel-based materials have received considerable attention for alkaline seawater electrolysis owing to their earth abundance, tunable electronic structure, and intrinsic stability in alkaline environments. This review critically examines recent advances in Ni-based catalysts for seawater electrolysis across catalyst, reaction, and electrolyzer levels, addressing both oxygen evolution and alternative anodic oxidation reactions and their implications for electrolyzer operation. Particular emphasis is given to catalyst engineering strategies that enhance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) selectivity and corrosion resistance while mitigating chloride-induced degradation under technologically relevant operating conditions. In parallel, the application of Ni-based materials in alternative anodic oxidation reactions is discussed as a route to reduce overall energy input, with selected alternative anodic reactions (AORs) enabling the co-production of value-added chemicals, together with practical limitations associated with feedstock supply and consumption and environmental and safety requirements. The review further examines OER performance at high current densities, chloride-management strategies, hybrid anodic oxidation pathways, and catalyst stability, together with their implications for practical electrolyzer operation and scale-up.
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BibTeX
@article{pavithra2026recent,
title = {{Recent advances in nickel-based catalysts for alkaline seawater electrolysis: Oxygen evolution, hybrid anodic reactions and electrolyzer integration}},
author = {B. Pavithra and Sreetama Ghosh and Philippe Vernoux},
journal = {Chemical Engineering Journal},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.cej.2026.182500},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05773245v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Recent advances in nickel-based catalysts for alkaline seawater electrolysis: Oxygen evolution, hybrid anodic reactions and electrolyzer integration
AU - B. Pavithra
AU - Sreetama Ghosh
AU - Philippe Vernoux
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/28
JO - Chemical Engineering Journal
DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2026.182500
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05773245v1
AB - Seawater electrolysis offers a promising route for sustainable hydrogen production by reducing reliance on freshwater resources. However, its practical implementation remains limited by the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction at the anode, the competing chlorine oxidation reaction (ClOR) and electrode corrosion under high current densities. Nickel-based materials have received considerable attention for alkaline seawater electrolysis owing to their earth abundance, tunable electronic structure, and intrinsic stability in alkaline environments. This review critically examines recent advances in Ni-based catalysts for seawater electrolysis across catalyst, reaction, and electrolyzer levels, addressing both oxygen evolution and alternative anodic oxidation reactions and their implications for electrolyzer operation. Particular emphasis is given to catalyst engineering strategies that enhance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) selectivity and corrosion resistance while mitigating chloride-induced degradation under technologically relevant operating conditions. In parallel, the application of Ni-based materials in alternative anodic oxidation reactions is discussed as a route to reduce overall energy input, with selected alternative anodic reactions (AORs) enabling the co-production of value-added chemicals, together with practical limitations associated with feedstock supply and consumption and environmental and safety requirements. The review further examines OER performance at high current densities, chloride-management strategies, hybrid anodic oxidation pathways, and catalyst stability, together with their implications for practical electrolyzer operation and scale-up.
SN - 1385-8947
ER -