A hybrid electrolyzer splits water at 0.8 V at room temperature

•Water splits at 0.8 V in a hybrid electrolyzer.•The hybrid electrolyzer contains basic and acidic compartments.•Hydrogen comes from the acidic compartment.•Oxygen comes from the basic compartment.•The hybrid electrolyzer breaks the thermodynamic limit for water splitting.

Electrochemical water splitting normally requires a voltage between 1.6 and 2.5 V, due to the thermodynamic requirement (1.23 V at 25 °C), ohmic resistance and overpotentials on the anode and cathode. Here, we demonstrate a new concept that successfully splits water into oxygen and hydrogen at a voltage as small as 0.8 V at room temperature (25 °C) with earth-abundance catalysts. This concept breaks the thermodynamic requirement for water splitting and provides a bright future for the hydrogen economy.

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