Solid–Liquid Interfacial Hydrogen Bond‐Mediated Mass Transfer Toward Industrial Water Electrolysis

Y Yu Lin B Bowen Chen D Danji Huang (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology) Z Zhenhong Yang (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology) A Ang Lu (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology) Z Zhaoyang Shi (State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering) Y Youwen Liu (State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering) J Jiakun Fang (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology) H Huiqiao Li (State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering) T Tianyou Zhai (State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering)

Abstract

Abstract The rapid migration of reactive ions across the electrolyte–catalytic sites interface is crucial in various catalytic processes. Herein, we introduce hydrogen bonds to bridge the intrinsic gap at the catalyst–electrolyte interface, mediating the diffusion of hydroxide ions. We implemented the aforementioned concept by a library of oxyanions functionalized NiCo OOH, wherein the oxygen atom within the oxyanions established hydrogen bonds with H 2 O molecules in the electrolyte. Operando spectroscopy indicated that both water electrolysis activity and hydroxide concentration exhibited a volcano‐shaped dependence on the electrostatic potential of functionalized group, which formulated the electrostatic potential as descriptors to guide the design of interfacial hydrogen bond‐mediated catalysis. The sulfate‐modified NiCo OOH achieved an ultralow energy consumption of 4.23 kWh m −3 H2 in the industrial electrolyzers, predicting that the electricity consumption can be reduced by 16 000 TWh.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 26
Published June 24, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

Y

Yu Lin

B

Bowen Chen

D

Danji Huang

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Z

Zhenhong Yang

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

A

Ang Lu

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Z

Zhaoyang Shi

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering

Y

Youwen Liu

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering

J

Jiakun Fang

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

H

Huiqiao Li

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering

T

Tianyou Zhai

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering