Recent advances in electrocatalysts for seawater splitting in hydrogen evolution reaction

Electrocatalytic water splitting is an important method to produce green and renewable hydrogen (H₂). One of the hindrances for wide applications of electrocatalysis in H₂ production is the lack of freshwater resources. Comparatively, seawater splitting has become an effective approach for large-scale H₂ production due to its abundant reserves. However, the increased complexity of seawater content emerged more problems in electrocatalytic seawater splitting. Recently, various strategies have been reported on improving the performance of electrocatalysts applied in seawater. Herein, this review firstly analyzed the mechanisms and challenges of electrocatalytic seawater splitting to evolve H₂, and summarized the recent progress on H₂ production in electrocatalytic seawater splitting. Furthermore, suggestions for future work have been provided for guidance.     

Development of high pressure membraneless alkaline electrolyzer

A technology for cyclic generation of hydrogen and oxygen using electrodes made of variable valency material that does not need the use of separating ion-exchange membranes is presented. The technological solution enables to fabricate electrolyzers for uninterrupted producing high-pressure hydrogen with reduced energy intensity of the production. The total work for compressing 1 m³ of hydrogen and 0.5 m³ of oxygen has been estimated. Results of investigation of influence of discrete supply of DC current to the electrolysis cell, in order to improve the processes of gas evolution and to simplify the power systems of the electrolysis plant, have been considered. There is also considered an electrolysis installation equipped with a thermosorption compressor in which LaNi₅ is used as a hydride-forming compound. The comparative characteristics of the developed electrolyzer and the currently used hydrogen generators are given.     

Sputtered Ir–Ru based catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction: Study of iridium effect on stability

Magnetron sputtered low-loading iridium-ruthenium thin films are investigated as catalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction at the anode of the Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer. Electrochemical performance of 50 nm thin catalysts (Ir pure, Ir–Ru 1:1, Ir–Ru 1:3, Ru pure) is tested in a Rotating Disk Electrode. Corresponding Tafel slopes are measured before and after the CV-based procedure to compare the activity and stability of prepared compounds. Calculated activities prior to the procedure confirm higher activity of ruthenium-containing catalysts (Ru pure > Ir–Ru 1:3 > Ir–Ru 1:1 > Ir pure). However, after the procedure a higher activity and less degradation of Ir–Ru 1:3 is observed, compared to Ir–Ru 1:1, i.e. the sample with a higher amount of unstable ruthenium performs better. This contradicts the expected behavior of the catalyst. The comprehensive chemical and structural analysis unravels that the stability of Ir–Ru 1:3 sample is connected to RuO₂ chemical state and hcp structure. Obtained results are confirmed by measuring current densities in a single cell.     

氯碱电解槽槽电压构成现状与进展

依据槽电压构成的诸多因素,介绍了目前槽电压构成的现状和进展。     

酸性盐水及其配套装置的应用与运行

介绍了对进槽盐水由酸碱性改为微酸性的技术改造，减少了副反应的发生，从而提高了电解槽的电流效率。     

180kA大型铝电解槽力场测试与分析

阐述了１８０ｋＡ大型铝电解槽槽壳的位移现场测试手段、槽壳表面位移特征和槽壳所受内力的计算方法，并对槽壳结构优化设计做了分析     

金属阳极电解槽修订标准释义

对HG/T 2471-1993《隔膜法电解槽金属阳极涂层》和HG 2951-1988（原GB 9844-88）《隔膜法金属阳极电解槽制造技术条件》标准的修订版HG/T 2471-2001《电解槽金属阳极涂层》和HG/T 2951-2001《隔膜法金属阳极电解槽》进行了技术性解释。公布了按照HG/T 2471-2001《电解槽金属阳极涂层》要求对产品质量达标企业的型式检验结果。     

离子膜电解槽闪爆事故的分析

通过对离子膜电解槽停车泄料时发生的闪爆事故的分析，找出引起闪爆事故的主要原因是由漏入的氯气和氢气在A槽阳极室内达到爆炸极限后遇到尖端的放电造成的电火花所致。同时分析了A槽槽电压升高的原因，介绍了预防事故发生的措施。     

隔膜电解槽阴极吸附质量的波动与调整

介绍了电槽隔膜吸附中出现的波动及通过一系列调整使电槽稳定运行的过程。     

3种高电流密度离子膜电解槽的性能对比与介绍

目前离子膜电解槽的发展方向为复极、自然循环、高电流密度、低电耗，伍德诺拉公司BM2．7-Ⅲ型槽、美国西方化学公司ExL^B-65槽、日本氯工程公司BiTAC-858槽即具有这些先进性能。对这3种槽进行了介绍与对比。