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Investigation of supported IrO₂ as electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction in proton exchange membrane water electrolyser

Lookup NU author(s): Vinod Puthiyapura, Emeritus Professor Keith Scott

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Abstract

Indium tin oxide (ITO) was used as a support for IrO2 catalyst in the oxygen evolution reaction. IrO2 nanoparticles were deposited in various loading on commercially available ITO nanoparticle, 17-28 nm in size using the Adam's fusion method. The prepared catalysts were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The BET surface area of the support (35 m(2)/g) was 3 times lower than the unsupported IrO2 (112.7 m(2)/g). The surface area and electronic conductivity of the catalysts were predominantly contributed by the IrO2. The supported catalysts were tested in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for electrolyser operation. The 90% IrO2-ITO gave similar performance (1.74 V@1 A/cm(2)) to that of the unsupported IrO2 (1.73 V@1 A/cm(2)) in the MEA polarisation test at 80 degrees C with Nafion 115 membrane which was attributed to a better dispersion of the active IrO2 on the electrochemically inactive ITO support, giving rise to smaller catalyst particle and thereby higher surface area. Large IrO2 particles on the support significantly reduced the electrode performance. A comparison of TiO2 and ITO as support material showed that, 60% IrO2 loading was able to cover the support surface and giving sufficient conductivity to the catalyst. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Puthiyapura VK, Pasupathi S, Su HN, Liu XT, Pollet B, Scott K

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Year: 2014

Volume: 39

Issue: 5

Pages: 1905-1913

Print publication date: 04/02/2014

ISSN (print): 0360-3199

ISSN (electronic): 1879-3487

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.11.056

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.11.056

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