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Electrosynthesis of chlorine from seawater-like solution through single-atom catalysts

Author

Listed:
  • Yangyang Liu

    (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
    The University of Sydney)

  • Can Li

    (China Jiliang University)

  • Chunhui Tan

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Zengxia Pei

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Tao Yang

    (University of Aveiro)

  • Shuzhen Zhang

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Qianwei Huang

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Yihan Wang

    (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
    The University of Sydney)

  • Zheng Zhou

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Xiaozhou Liao

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Juncai Dong

    (Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hao Tan

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Wensheng Yan

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Huajie Yin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhao-Qing Liu

    (Guangzhou University)

  • Jun Huang

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Shenlong Zhao

    (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
    The University of Sydney)

Abstract

The chlor-alkali process plays an essential and irreplaceable role in the modern chemical industry due to the wide-ranging applications of chlorine gas. However, the large overpotential and low selectivity of current chlorine evolution reaction (CER) electrocatalysts result in significant energy consumption during chlorine production. Herein, we report a highly active oxygen-coordinated ruthenium single-atom catalyst for the electrosynthesis of chlorine in seawater-like solutions. As a result, the as-prepared single-atom catalyst with Ru-O4 moiety (Ru-O4 SAM) exhibits an overpotential of only ~30 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in an acidic medium (pH = 1) containing 1 M NaCl. Impressively, the flow cell equipped with Ru-O4 SAM electrode displays excellent stability and Cl2 selectivity over 1000 h continuous electrocatalysis at a high current density of 1000 mA cm−2. Operando characterizations and computational analysis reveal that compared with the benchmark RuO2 electrode, chloride ions preferentially adsorb directly onto the surface of Ru atoms on Ru-O4 SAM, thereby leading to a reduction in Gibbs free-energy barrier and an improvement in Cl2 selectivity during CER. This finding not only offers fundamental insights into the mechanisms of electrocatalysis but also provides a promising avenue for the electrochemical synthesis of chlorine from seawater electrocatalysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Yangyang Liu & Can Li & Chunhui Tan & Zengxia Pei & Tao Yang & Shuzhen Zhang & Qianwei Huang & Yihan Wang & Zheng Zhou & Xiaozhou Liao & Juncai Dong & Hao Tan & Wensheng Yan & Huajie Yin & Zhao-Qing L, 2023. "Electrosynthesis of chlorine from seawater-like solution through single-atom catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38129-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38129-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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