Work

An asymmetric photothermal platform for coupled seawater splitting and desalination

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Photocatalytic seawater splitting provides a sustainable route to green hydrogen, but faces barriers of inefficiency and scalability. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, CN) offers saline tolerance, yet its catalytic potential requires atomic-level control of structure and charge dynamics. Herein, we design three single-atom Co configurations on CN, including symmetric Co–N4, vacancy-anchored Co–N3, and asymmetric Co–N4. The asymmetric Co–N4 in hierarchically porous carbon nitride (CoSA-hCN) introduces second-shell carbon vacancies that reshape electronic asymmetry and charge dynamics, establishing a robust pathway for effective salinity-mediated charge transfer and in situ Pt photodeposition for H2 evolution. On a scalable 60 cm2 floating photothermal platform under 1 sun, H2 production (47.7 mmol m−2 h−1) and interfacial seawater evaporation (1.88 kg m−2 h−1) are achieved directly from natural seawater. In this work, we offer design principles for a single-atom catalyst on scalable photothermal platform for coupled seawater splitting and desalination. This study reports an asymmetric single-atom catalyst in a floating photothermal platform, realising simultaneous solar-driven hydrogen production and seawater desalination in a scalable device.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71139-y

Authors: Jingkai Lin, Hengyue Xu, Wenjie Tian, Hongqi Sun, Huayang Zhang, Shaobin Wang

Institutions: Adelaide University, The University of Adelaide, Tsinghua University, The University of Western Australia

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,990