Fluorine doped (Ir,Sn,Nb)O2 anode electro-catalyst for oxygen evolution via PEM based water electrolysis

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 39; no. 2; pp. 664 - 674
• Main Authors: Kadakia, Karan, Datta, Moni Kanchan, Velikokhatnyi, Oleg I., Jampani, Prashanth H., Kumta, Prashant N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Anodes; Applied sciences; Durability; Electro-catalyst; Electrolysis; Energy; Energy use; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorine; Fuels; Hydrogen; Hydrogen generation; Nanostructured thin films; Oxygen evolution; PEM electrolysis; Reduction (electrolytic); Solid solutions; Thin films; Oxygen evolution; PEM electrolysis; Electro-catalyst; Nanostructured thin films; Hydrogen generation; Anode; Electrolysis; Hydrogen; Nanostructure; Catalyst; Hydrogen production; Thin film
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.10.123

A solid solution of fluorine combined with IrO2, SnO2 and NbO2, denoted as (Ir,Sn,Nb)O2:F, corresponding to composition (Ir0.30Sn0.35Nb0.35)O2:x wt.% F, where x ranges from 0 to 20 was coated on a pretreated Ti foil by decomposition of a homogeneous mixture of Ir, Sn, Nb and F precursors. The (Ir,Sn,Nb)O2:F thin film compositions have been studied as promising anode electro-catalysts for PEM based water electrolysis. Results suggest that (Sn,Nb)O2:F solid solution is a novel support material for IrO2 electro-catalyst. Furthermore, it has been identified that a reduction of IrO2 content up to 70 mol.% shows better electrochemical activity compared to pure IrO2 with F doping. This excellent electrochemical activity during water electrolysis has also been supported by long term durability studies of (Ir,Sn,Nb)O2:F thin films. These results have also been corroborated using first-principles calculations of the total energies, electronic structures and cohesive energies of the model systems.
•Nanostructured (Ir,Sn,Nb)O2:F thin films have been wet chemically synthesized.•(Ir0.30Sn0.35Nb0.35)O2:10F films exhibit similar activity to IrO2.•(Ir0.30Sn0.35Nb0.35)O2:F thin films exhibits durability comparable to pure IrO2.•(Ir,Sn,Nb)O2:F thin films are promising OER electro-catalysts.