The oxygen-evolution reaction (OER)
is a bottleneck in
water splitting,
which is a critical process for energy storage. In this study, the
electrochemistry of Pb in the absence or presence of K2FeO4, as a soluble Fe source, is examined at pH ≈
13. Our findings indicate that Pb exhibits limited catalytic activity
for the OER under alkaline conditions. However, upon the addition
of K2FeO4 to the electrolyte, a significant
enhancement in the OER activity is observed in the presence of Pb.
A notable observation in this study is the formation of stable Fe(IV)
species following the OER during chronoamperometry experiments conducted
in an alkaline solution. In addition to in situ Raman and visible
spectroscopies, the operated electrodes have been characterized by
high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron
microscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction,
electrochemical methods, electron paramagnetic resonance, and X-ray
absorption spectroscopy. Through our experimental investigations,
it is consistently observed that the presence of Fe ions on the surface
of Pb/PbO
x
serves as an effective catalyst
for the OER. However, it is important to note that this heightened
OER activity is only temporary due to the low adhesion of Fe ions
on the surface of Pb/PbO
x
.