Ultrathin Iridium Oxide Catalyst on a Conductive Support for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acid

Abstract

Ultrathin Iridium Oxide Catalyst on a Conductive Support for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acid ABSTRACT Anthropogenic climate change has driven interest in the research and development of clean energy alternatives. Great advancements in renewable energy production have been made, but its intermittent nature requires the development of a large-scale storage technology. Water electrolysis is a promising solution to the storage dilemma, via the state-of-the-art proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers that can convert renewable energy into hydrogen fuel. However, the acidic operating conditions of PEM cells results in slow kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Iridium oxide is the only catalyst capable of withstanding these harsh conditions, but its low abundance and high costs limit large-scale implementation. My research focuses on designing a novel sub-monolayer-thick iridium oxide catalyst on an inexpensive conductive support that would allow to decrease iridium loading while maximizing activity.