Premium
Ultrathin IrO 2 Nanoneedles for Electrochemical Water Oxidation
Author(s) -
Lim Jinkyu,
Park Dongmin,
Jeon Sun Seo,
Roh ChiWoo,
Choi Juhyuk,
Yoon Daejin,
Park Minju,
Jung Hyeyoung,
Lee Hyunjoo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201704796
Subject(s) - oxygen evolution , materials science , water splitting , electrochemistry , electrolysis , chemical engineering , electrolysis of water , molten salt , anode , nanotechnology , hydrogen production , electrode , electrolyte , hydrogen , catalysis , metallurgy , chemistry , photocatalysis , engineering , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Electrochemical water splitting is promising for utilizing intermittent renewable energy. The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), however, is a bottleneck in obtaining high efficiency. Only a few OER electrocatalysts have been developed for the use in acidic media despite the importance of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer. IrO 2 is the only material that is both active and stable for the OER in highly corrosive acidic conditions. Herein, a facile and scalable synthesis of ultrathin IrO 2 nanoneedles is reported with a diameter of 2 nm using a modified molten salt method. The activity and durability for the OER are significantly enhanced on the ultrathin IrO 2 nanoneedles, compared to conventional nanoparticles. The ultrathin nanoneedles are successfully introduced to a PEM electrolyzer single cell with the enhanced cell performance.