Open AccessIr/TiONx/C high-performance oxygen evolution reaction nanocomposite electrocatalysts in acidic media: synthesis, characterization and electrochemical benchmarking protocol
Author(s) -
Anja Lončar,
Léonard Moriau,
Kevin Stojanovski,
Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda,
Primož Jovanovič,
Marjan Bele,
Miran Gaberšček,
Nejc Hodnik
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
jphys energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2515-7655
DOI - 10.1088/2515-7655/ab69a2
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , oxygen evolution , nanocomposite , materials science , electrochemistry , iridium , chemical engineering , electrochemical energy conversion , nanotechnology , chemistry , catalysis , electrode , biochemistry , engineering
More efficient utilization of iridium is of immense importance for the future development of proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. In this study, we introduce a new facile and scalable synthesis of an Ir-based high-performance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalytic nanocomposite. The composite consists of Ir nanoparticles with an average size of 3–4 nm, which are effectively anchored on a titanium oxynitride support (TiON x ), which is distributed across high-surface-area Ketjen Black carbon (Ir/TiON x /C). We provide complete structural, morphological and compositional characterization (x-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) and propose a proper benchmark protocol to measure true electrochemical performance. Compared to the state-of-the-art Ir Black electrocatalyst, Ir/TiON x /C exhibits approximately three times higher OER performance.