National Central University Achieves Milestone in Seawater Hydrogen Production by Overcoming Corrosion Challenges

Hydrogen production through water electrolysis is considered a clean energy solution, but it typically requires pure water, making it difficult to implement in water-scarce regions. In response, materials science experts Kuan-Wen Wang, Wei-Hsuan Hung, and Tzu-Hsuan Chiang have collaborated to develop a universal electrolyzer that can operate in acidic, alkaline, and even complex seawater conditions. The team also plans to explore ammonia-based hydrogen production to support hydrogen energy’s role in carbon reduction.

A Versatile Hydrogen Production System

Prof. Kuan-Wen Wang, Vice Dean of the College of Engineering at National Central University (NCU) and professor at the Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, stated:
"No matter what the input is, the ultimate goal is to extract hydrogen!"

The team has developed a comprehensive electrolysis solution that, through the use of catalysts and membranes, enables hydrogen production from acidic, alkaline, seawater, and ammonia-based solutions.

Overcoming Corrosion Challenges in Seawater Electrolysis

Inland countries often lack water resources or suffer from salinization, making seawater a practical alternative for hydrogen production. However, the chloride ions in seawater pose a serious corrosion risk to electrolyzers.

Prof. Wei-Hsuan Hung from NCU's Institute of Materials Science and Engineering revealed that the team has developed a Taiwan-exclusive high-entropy catalyst material. Unlike commercial materials, which corrode within an hour in seawater, this new catalyst has over 1,000 hours of stability, marking a technological milestone in direct seawater electrolysis.

Enhanced Membrane Technology by National United University

Prof. Tzu-Hsuan Chiang, Director of Research and Development at National United University, highlighted additional challenges such as microplastics, pollutants, and heavy metals in seawater. Her team tested real seawater samples and developed a specialized separation membrane, which outperforms commercial membranes in ion conductivity under electrolysis conditions. Despite a 2–3% lower overall efficiency, the team successfully expanded the membrane’s size to 100 cm², making it more viable for larger-scale applications.

🔗 Source: Liberty Times