TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultrasound-enhanced alkaline water splitting with fast bubble release and sustained Ni catalysts
AU - Saad, Ali
AU - Bai, Lu
AU - Christensen, Frederick Munk S.
AU - Luo, Shuang
AU - Bentien, Anders
AU - Ashokkumar, Muthupandian
AU - Wei, Zongsu
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/8
Y1 - 2025/8
N2 - Electrocatalytic water splitting is a promising approach to generate green hydrogen. However, mass production requires overcoming limitations associated with low efficiency as a result of gas bubble adhesion on the catalyst surface. Herein, we explored the significant impact of ultrasound as an external source to boost the electrolysis of nickel catalysts. It has been demonstrated that ultrasound accelerates bubble release (bubble resident time reduced up to 80 %) and improves electrocatalytic performance from 24 % to 43 %. Specifically, the physical and chemical effects generated by cavitation bubble collapse contribute to the overall production rate of H2 by regenerating the catalyst's active surface, reducing the overpotential, and facilitating the mass transfer. This study reveals a comprehensive understanding of the impact of ultrasound on the electrocatalytic activity for efficient H2 production, opening an appealing opportunity for its implementation in the alkaline water-splitting process.
AB - Electrocatalytic water splitting is a promising approach to generate green hydrogen. However, mass production requires overcoming limitations associated with low efficiency as a result of gas bubble adhesion on the catalyst surface. Herein, we explored the significant impact of ultrasound as an external source to boost the electrolysis of nickel catalysts. It has been demonstrated that ultrasound accelerates bubble release (bubble resident time reduced up to 80 %) and improves electrocatalytic performance from 24 % to 43 %. Specifically, the physical and chemical effects generated by cavitation bubble collapse contribute to the overall production rate of H2 by regenerating the catalyst's active surface, reducing the overpotential, and facilitating the mass transfer. This study reveals a comprehensive understanding of the impact of ultrasound on the electrocatalytic activity for efficient H2 production, opening an appealing opportunity for its implementation in the alkaline water-splitting process.
KW - Cavitation bubble
KW - Hydrogen production
KW - Ni catalysts
KW - Surface reconstruction
KW - Water splitting
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85218247634&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apcatb.2025.125152
DO - 10.1016/j.apcatb.2025.125152
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85218247634
SN - 0926-3373
VL - 370
JO - Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
JF - Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
M1 - 125152
ER -