Non-precious metal perovskites in seawater electrolysis and marine fuel cells: catalyst design, reaction kinetics, and stability limitations

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The practical implementation of seawater electrolysis faces critical challenges, including poor catalyst durability under harsh saline conditions and the high cost associated with noble metal catalysts. Developing robust, cost effective alternatives is essential for scalable hydrogen production and marine energy technologies. Non-noble metal perovskite oxides have emerged as promising candidates to address these challenges due to their structural flexibility, tunable electronic properties, and economic viability. Their compositional versatility enables precise control over catalytic activity and selectivity, making them particularly suitable for complex seawater environments. To fully exploit their potential, a comprehensive understanding of their design principles and performance limitations is required. In this review, we systematically examine recent advances in perovskite electrocatalysts, focusing on rational design strategies such as A and B site substitution, defect engineering, and surface/interface modulation. We further discuss key reaction mechanisms, including adsorbate evolution pathways and lattice oxygen participation, alongside critical stability challenges such as chloride induced corrosion, surface reconstruction, and cation leaching. Emerging solutions including protective coatings, heterostructure engineering, and electrolyte regulation are also highlighted as effective approaches to enhance long-term durability. This review provides an integrated perspective that bridges atomic-level mechanistic insights with materials design strategies, offering guidance for the development of durable, low-cost electrocatalysts and accelerating the realization of efficient seawater electrolysis and marine energy conversion systems.