Strategies to enhance the corrosion resistance of electrode materials in direct seawater electrolysis

Direct seawater electrolysis (DSE) has emerged as a promising route for large-scale hydrogen production since it leverages the abundance of natural seawater while eliminating the energy and cost penalties associated with desalination. However, practical implementation remains limited by severe corrosion, parasitic reactions, and structural degradation of electrode materials in chloride-rich, multi-ionic marine environments. This review outlines recent advances in understanding and mitigating corrosion pathways that undermine the stability, selectivity, and efficiency of DSE systems. Fundamental electrochemical processes including chloride-induced passivation breakdown, competition between the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and chlorine evolution reaction (ClER), and hydroxide precipitation are critically examined to establish the mechanistic origins of electrode failure. Catalyst and material design strategies for minimizing these degradation routes are evaluated across four major domains: electrolyte engineering, catalyst and material design, interface engineering, and protective barrier technologies. Particular emphasis is placed on emerging ion-selective and microenvironment-modulating architectures capable of suppressing ClER while sustaining high OER and HER performance. Future research directions are presented, highlighting the need for ion-selective architectures, multifunctional protective interfaces, standardized corrosion-testing protocols, and integrated system designs capable of maintaining durability under real seawater conditions, ultimately guiding the path toward practical and sustainable DSE deployment.