Heterointerface-Enabled Anti-Reverse-Current Electrodes for Alkaline Water Electrolyzers at 1000 mA cm-2
He W, Wang Y, Zhao Y, Tang C, Cong L, Wang C, Lu Y, Liu X, Dong J, Cherevko S, Hua Q, Zhang Q (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 148
Pages Range: 5232-5242
Journal Issue: 5
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c17603
Abstract
Achieving stable and efficient alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) under fluctuating renewable energy inputs is essential for large-scale green hydrogen production. However, frequent shutdown-induced reverse current (RC) effects pose significant challenges to electrode durability. Here, we introduce a gradient interlayer engineering strategy to develop robust AWE electrodes that intrinsically resist both electrochemical reconstruction and mechanical fatigue. By constructing a dense interlayer with Ni(112̅)/Ni3S2(1̅20) heterointerfaces, the electrode demonstrates high catalytic activity (1.79 V @1000 mA cm-2─meeting the U.S. DOE 2026 target), excellent operational stability (>1500 h at 1000 mA cm-2 in 30 wt % KOH at 80 °C), and exceptional RC resistance for 3600 accelerated startup/shutdown cycles. Mechanistic studies through cross-sectional characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that the seamless interlayer at the catalyst-substrate interface enhances interfacial adhesion, mitigates lattice mismatch, and facilitates charge redistribution, ensuring robust stability and integrity even under operational strains and potential reversals. This work establishes interface crystallography as a design paradigm for durable electrodes, potentially overcoming the stability-activity dilemma toward industrially relevant electrolyzers coupled with fluctuating renewable energy sources.
Involved external institutions
Forschungszentrum Jülich / Research Centre Jülich (FZJ)
Germany (DE)
Beijing Normal University
China (CN)
Tsinghua University
China (CN)
Beijing University of Technology / 北京工业大学
China (CN)
Harbin University of Science and Technology
China (CN)
Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) / 中国科学院高能物理研究所
China (CN)
Germany (DE)
Beijing Normal University
China (CN)
Tsinghua University
China (CN)
Beijing University of Technology / 北京工业大学
China (CN)
Harbin University of Science and Technology
China (CN)
Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) / 中国科学院高能物理研究所
China (CN)
How to cite
APA:
He, W., Wang, Y., Zhao, Y., Tang, C., Cong, L., Wang, C.,... Zhang, Q. (2026). Heterointerface-Enabled Anti-Reverse-Current Electrodes for Alkaline Water Electrolyzers at 1000 mA cm-2. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 148(5), 5232-5242. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c17603
MLA:
He, Wenjun, et al. "Heterointerface-Enabled Anti-Reverse-Current Electrodes for Alkaline Water Electrolyzers at 1000 mA cm-2." Journal of the American Chemical Society 148.5 (2026): 5232-5242.
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