Ti-Doped SnO₂ Supports IrO₂ Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) in PEM Water Electrolysis

Abstract

The development of polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis of water is mainly limited by the high cost of noble metals and inadequate stability owing to the slow reaction kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction and the restrictions of strongly acidic operating environments. To improve the utilization of noble metals, we use Ti-doped SnO2 as a carrier to support active species IrO2. The results show that the introduction of Ti element can inhibit the grain growth and help to improve the electrical conductivity of SnO2. Electrochemical tests for the catalysts show that 40 wt % IrO2/TSO has the best mass-normalized charge (231.24 C g–1 IrO2) and current density (714.85 A g–1 IrO2) at 1.6 V with the overpotential of only 271 mV at 10 mA cm–2, which is attributed to the outstanding dispersion effect of Ti-doped SnO2 and the synergy between the active species and the introduction of Ti element. The comprehensive advantages exhibited by the Ti-doped SnO2 support provide an alternative solution to reduce the cost of noble metal catalysts by improving the catalytic activity and stability.

Modulation for RuO2/TiO2 via Simple Synthesis to Enhance the Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

“…Hence, extensive efforts to modify RuO 2 electrocatalysts have been given to improve the activity and stability, as well as reduce the cost. Dispersing active particles on stable metal oxide supports like doped tin oxides, , manganese oxides, , and tricobalt tetroxides , is a promising way to approach the above needs for OER electrocatalysts, due to good corrosion resistance for support and electronic coupling interactions with surface-supported noble metals . However, most of the inert supports are synthesized in laboratories by corresponding precursors to introduce doping elements or modify surface morphology, which make the whole process more complicated.…”

Free-Standing Dendritic Nanostructured Co/CNT/Carbon Nanofiber Composites for Efficient Water Splitting in Alkaline Media

“…At present, noble metal nanomaterials (for example, Pt/C, RuO 2 , and IrO 2 ) were effective. However, the high cost enormously limits the large-scale manufacture of H 2 and O 2 …”

“…However, the high cost enormously limits the largescale manufacture of H 2 and O 2 . 5 Consequently, the exploration of low-cost alternative catalysts for noble metals has drawn much more attention and it is still an imperative challenge. 6 Metal sulfides, 7,8 oxides, 9 phosphides, 10 nitrides, 11 carbides, 12,13 and metal alloys 14 have been extensively studied in electrocatalysis.…”

Nitrogen doped and carbon coated CoP hollow nanospheres with enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen evolution reaction

“…6,7 At present, noble metal-based materials, such as ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), and Pt-based nanomaterials, are still the most effective catalysts for the HER and the OER with low overpotentials (Z) and fast kinetics. 8,9 Nevertheless, the rarity and cost of precious metals prohibit the further commercialization of these catalysts. Therefore, numerous efforts have been made to develop low cost electrocatalysts to take the place of the most advanced noble metal-based catalysts.…”