Constructing chloride-repelling electrostatic barriers on Au@Rh-Al nanodendrites for highly efficient seawater electrolysis

Large-scale green hydrogen production via seawater electrolysis represents a pivotal pathway toward achieving carbon neutrality, while direct seawater splitting faces the dual challenges of chloride ion (Cl^-) induced active site deactivation and sluggish alkaline water dissociation kinetics. Herein, a novel interface microenvironment modulation strategy is proposed by constructing lattice-strained RhAl hetero-dendritic interfaces on Au cores, in which the modulation of the electronic environment optimizes the d-band center of Rh active sites, providing a superior foundation for intrinsic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. Comprehensive electrochemical analyses further demonstrate that the interfacial negative charge environment induced by Al sites under alkaline conditions helps regulate the ionic distribution at the catalytic interface and influences the migration of Cl^- toward the catalyst surface and active sites, thereby mitigating Cl^- interference with the active sites and improving the long-term stability of the catalyst in complex seawater environments. Consequently, the structural synergistic optimization of Au@Rh-Al not only facilitates the rapid replenishment and enrichment of interfacial *OH but also endows the catalyst with exceptional resistance to chlorine corrosion that enhance their intrinsic activity and corrosion resistance. This work provides valuable insights for the rational design and fabrication of highly active and corrosion-resistant electrocatalysts tailored for alkaline seawater electrolysis.