Efficient Conversion of Seawater Vapor to Hydrogen Using Cu-Fe/Al₂O₃ Catalysts Assisted by Non-Thermal Plasma

This study demonstrates an innovative approach for green and efficient hydrogen production from seawater, utilizing Cu-Fe/Al₂O₃ catalysts coupled with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system. The catalytic performance was systematically evaluated under varying voltages and Cu/Fe ratios in a DBD reactor to optimize hydrogen production efficiency. Subsequent investigations focused on humidity and gas flow rate effects using the optimal catalyst (Cu/Fe/Al ₂ O ₃  = 2:1:9). Multimodal characterization (XRD, XPS, FTIR, OES) combined with DFT calculations revealed the mechanistic role of Cu-Fe/Al ₂ O ₃ in plasma-driven hydrogen generation. The synergistic interaction between Fe and Cu enhanced hydroxyl/hydrogen radical generation through improved adsorption, thereby boosting hydrogen evolution efficiency and yield. The optimized system achieved a maximum hydrogen yield of 7.4 g/kWh at 3 kV operating voltage, 3 L/min argon flow, and 100% relative humidity, establishing an energy-efficient pathway for sustainable hydrogen production from seawater.