Unveiling the Catalytic Mechanisms of Bimetallic Metal-Hydroxide Organic Frameworks for Efficient Urea-Assisted Natural Seawater Electrolysis

Unveiling the Catalytic Mechanisms of Bimetallic Metal-Hydroxide Organic Frameworks for Efficient Urea-Assisted Natural Seawater Electrolysis | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Energy & Environmental Materials This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 12 May 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Unveiling the Catalytic Mechanisms of Bimetallic Metal-Hydroxide Organic Frameworks for Efficient Urea-Assisted Natural Seawater Electrolysis Authors : Ngoc Quang Tran 0000-0002-3837-5110 [email protected] , Thuy Tien Nguyen Tran [email protected] , Jianmin Yu [email protected] , Trần-Phú Thành [email protected] , Thuy-Kieu Truong [email protected] , Phuong Dung Ngoc Tran [email protected] , Quoc Huy Vu [email protected] , Rosalie Hocking [email protected] , Thi Anh Le [email protected] , and Lishan Peng [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003077/v1 32 views 17 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Metal-hydroxide organic frameworks (MHOFs), featuring a synergistic interplay between metal hydroxides and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), exhibit tremendous potential as next-generation electrocatalysts for water splitting. However, their underlying catalytic mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Herein, we demonstrate that incorporating Co atoms into Ni-MHOF microbulk arrays modulates the electronic structure of the metal active centers, thereby significantly enhancing alkaline seawater oxidation performance. Our NiCo-MHOF-6 catalyst delivers a low overpotential of 356 mV at 0.5 A cm-2 and exhibits remarkable durability, sustaining continuous operation at 220 mA cm-2 for over 220 h. In practical seawater electrolysis, the assembled electrolyzer exhibits energy-efficient performance, requiring only 1.57 V to deliver 200 mA cm-2 and sustaining stable operation for 210 h at 240 mA cm-2. Operando Raman spectroscopy, operando EIS, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyses reveal that in situ transformation into high-valent oxyhydroxide active species (γ-NiOOH) plays a pivotal role in accelerating the reaction kinetics. This work provides a scalable and economically viable strategy for coupled green H2 production and urea-rich wastewater treatment in seawater. Supplementary Material File (si.docx) si Download 5.64 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 12 May 2026 Collection Energy & Environmental Materials Keywords electrochemistry energy materials materials science MOFs catalysts carbon materials catalysts energy materials solar cells carbon materials nanotechnology photovoltaics materials science waste water treatment energy materials catalysts clean water electrochemistry Metal-hydroxide organic framework metal organic framework LDH water splitting seawater electrolysis carbon materials catalysts energy materials energy materials semiconductors solar cells light emitting materials materials science batteries catalysts energy materials fuel cells fuel production waste water treatment energy materials catalysts clean water electrochemistry electrochemistry energy materials materials science MOFs catalysts batteries carbon materials electrochemistry energy materials electrodes solar cells carbon materials nanotechnology photovoltaics materials science Authors Affiliations Ngoc Quang Tran 0000-0002-3837-5110 [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Thuy Tien Nguyen Tran [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Jianmin Yu [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Trần-Phú Thành [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Thuy-Kieu Truong [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Phuong Dung Ngoc Tran [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Quoc Huy Vu [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Rosalie Hocking [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Thi Anh Le [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Lishan Peng [email protected] VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 100000 View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 32 views 17 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Ngoc Quang Tran, Thuy Tien Nguyen Tran, Jianmin Yu, et al. Unveiling the Catalytic Mechanisms of Bimetallic Metal-Hydroxide Organic Frameworks for Efficient Urea-Assisted Natural Seawater Electrolysis. Authorea . 12 May 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003077/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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