Enhancing Water Electrolysis Performance by Bubble Behavior Management

Electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen generation plays a crucial role in promoting the energy transition and achieving the goals of carbon neutrality. Nevertheless, in the context of water electrolysis, the generated bubbles have an adverse impact on energy consumption and mass transfer efficiency. To address this challenge, a variety of strategies are investigated to accelerate bubble detachment and transport. It is of utmost significance to summarize those strategies for facilitating the advancement of water electrolysis performance. In this review, a comprehensive account of strategies are presented for enhancing water electrolysis performance through bubble behavior management. First, the impact of the electrolyte on bubbles is discussed. Then, optimized interactions between bubbles and the electrode surface are introduced, which focus on reducing adhesion forces and implementing other forces. Next, dynamic bubbling of deformable catalysts is discussed, such as fern- and caterpillar-like catalysts. Following that, bubble-bubble interactions are investigated as bubble coalescence is proved to be beneficial for earlier bubble departure compared to buoyancy effect alone. Finally, outlooks are presented for future development of efficient bubble removal strategies for enhanced water electrolysis performance. The review aims to deepen the comprehension of bubbles interactions and stimulate the development of management strategies, thereby further enhancing the performance of water electrolysis.