The study first outlines persistent challenges: when using seawater for electrochemical tasks like splitting water or synthesizing chemicals, abundant ions often trigger side reactions, cause scaling, or corrode electrodes. Yet the review details new methods that flip these problems into opportunities.
A major focus is chloride ions, which can be directed through optimized electrode design and cell setups to produce valuable chlorine gas or to boost reaction yields in specific processes. Sodium gets special attention as well: strategies like using cells with asymmetric compartments or switching between solution phases can help harness sodium ions for more selective electrocatalysis.
Magnesium and calcium play a different but critical role. Their presence shifts the local pH at electrodes, which not only protects the system but enables the simultaneous production of hydrogen and magnesium hydroxide - a valuable industrial material.
The review also spotlights work on extracting rare elements like uranium and lithium directly from seawater using smart electrode modifications and specially designed cell configurations.
This field is not just about chemistry, but about materials engineering and system integration. Advanced catalyst surfaces are being developed to selectively attract or repel certain ions. Some designs combine ion-exchange membranes with catalytic processes to fine-tune results even further.
Looking ahead, the authors stress the need to understand more about ion-catalyst interactions, to tackle the real-world complexity of ocean water, and to scale up these emerging systems for industrial use. They urge a shift in thinking: instead of fighting seawater's chemistry, we should use it as an asset - unlocking new ways to produce clean hydrogen, gather valuable chemicals, and turn a challenge into a resource for sustainable technologies.
Research Report:The utilization of ions in seawater for electrocatalysis
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