Issue 12, 2023

Screening potential anodic chemistry in lieu of the oxygen evolution reaction in electrolysis systems: the road to practical application

Abstract

Electrolysis systems transform electrical energy to chemical energy, providing a pathway for renewable electricity power to value-added chemicals. A wide range of cathodic electrochemical reactions, including hydrogen evolution reaction, electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide, and electrochemical hydrogenation of organic compounds, are explored for the production of chemicals using electrolysis systems. However, the anodic reaction normally coupled in the system—the oxygen evolution reaction, is less economically profitable based on the high energy consumption of the reaction and less valuable oxygen produced. Moreover, the crossover of oxygen may be detrimental to electrolytic systems sensitive to oxidants. As such, discovering potential alternative anodic chemistry in electrolysis systems, which includes the upgrading of chemicals and degradation of pollutants, may reinvigorate the associated electrochemical industries. In this perspective, explorations in this field are discussed predicated on the electrocatalytic mechanism, and the design of catalysts and reactors, motivating further studies on the optimization of the whole system towards practical application.

Graphical abstract: Screening potential anodic chemistry in lieu of the oxygen evolution reaction in electrolysis systems: the road to practical application

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
22 Aug 2023
Accepted
26 Sep 2023
First published
09 Oct 2023

Energy Environ. Sci., 2023,16, 5771-5791

Screening potential anodic chemistry in lieu of the oxygen evolution reaction in electrolysis systems: the road to practical application

H. Chen, Z. Liu, H. Zhou, X. Yang and W. Lin, Energy Environ. Sci., 2023, 16, 5771 DOI: 10.1039/D3EE02767H

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