Fujian's rich marine resources make it a "hydrogen goldmine." The future? Producing hydrogen directly from seawater.  

Iris Wong / Host  

I'm aboard the Dongfu No. 1, the world's first wind-powered platform producing hydrogen directly from seawater, no desalination needed. Completely pollution-free.  

While global researchers have struggled with seawater corrosion, the Dongfu No. 1 research project in China has successfully tackled this for the first time. This achievement earned recognition as one of the top ten advancements in Chinese science for the year 2022. To better understand the mechanism behind this, we are here to meet the project lead at Shenzhen University. Academician Xie Heping.

- Academician Xie.

- Hi, Iris.

-Nice to meet you.

-Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.

Before diving into seawater electrolysis, let’s explain the mechanism of hydrogen electrolysis from pure water. In an electrolytic cell filled with an electrolyte, a direct current is applied, causing water molecules to undergo electrochemical reactions at the electrodes. This process breaks the water down into hydrogen and oxygen without generating carbon dioxide emissions.

Iris Wong / Host  

How does this process differ when producing hydrogen through seawater electrolysis?

Prof. Heping Xie / Academician, Chinese Academy of Engineering  

In our electrolytic cell, direct current triggers electrochemical reactions, cleanly splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen with zero carbon emissions.  

Seawater's 92 complex elements typically poison electrolysis catalysts. That's why direct seawater electrolysis has been nearly impossible... until now.  

Our innovation? Harnessing concentration gradients to create a pressure difference. Only water vapor passes through, treating seawater like pure H₂O for electrolysis.  

What’s the game-changer? A smart membrane that filters seawater at the molecular level. Blocking all ions except water, it enables direct seawater-to-hydrogen conversion.  

Dongfu No. 1’s success marks a quantum leap for green hydrogen. In the long run, this could be fossil fuels' ultimate successor.