Photoelectrochemical seawater oxidation with metal oxide materials: Challenges and opportunities

Photocatalytic water oxidation is a crucial counter-electrode reaction in the process of photoelectrochemical energy conversion. Despite its importance, challenges remain in effectively and sustainably converting water to oxygen, particularly with readily available and inexpensive electrolyte solutions such as seawater. While metal oxide materials have demonstrated their advantages in promoting efficiency by reducing overpotential and improving light utilization, stability remains limited by corrosion in multicomponent seawater. In this paper, we reviewed the relationship between four basic concepts including photoelectrochemistry, metal oxide, water oxidation and seawater to better understand the challenges and opportunities in photoelectrochemical (PEC) seawater oxidation. To overcome these challenges, the advances in material design, interfacial modification, local environment control and reactor design have been further reviewed to benefit the industrial PEC seawater oxidation. Noticeably, we demonstrate engineered layered metal oxide electrodes and cell structures that enable powerful and stable seawater oxidation. We also outline and advise on the future direction in this area. (c) 2024 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. and Science Press. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.