Electrochemically active Ir NPs on graphene for OER in acidic aqueous electrolyte investigated by in situ and ex situ spectroscopies

DOI: 10.1016/j.susc.2018.10.021

Authors: J. J. Velasco-Vélez (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion; Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) , T. E. Jones (velasco@fhi-berlin.mpg.der) , V. Streibel (Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) , M. Hävecker (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion) , C.-H. Chuang (Tamkang University) , L. Frevel (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion) , M. Plodinec (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion) , A. Centeno (Graphenea) , A. Zurutuza (Graphenea) , R. Wang (University of Cambridge) , R. Arrigo (Diamond Light Source) , R. Mom (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion) , S. Hofmann (University of Cambridge) , R. Schlögl (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion; Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) , A. Knop-Gericke (Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Surface Science , VOL 681 , PAGES 1 - 8

State: Published (Approved)
Published: October 2018

Abstract: An electrode for the oxygen evolution reaction based on a conductive bi-layered free standing graphene support functionalized with iridium nanoparticles was fabricated and characterized by means of potentiometric and advanced X-ray spectroscopic techniques. It was found that the electrocatalytic activity of iridium nanoparticles is associated to the formation of Ir 5d electron holes. Strong Ir 5d and O 2p hybridization, however, leads to a concomitant increase O 2p hole character, making oxygen electron deficient and susceptible to nucleophilic attack by water. Consequently, more efficient electrocatalysts can be synthesized by increasing the number of electron-holes shared between the metal d and oxygen 2p.

Journal Keywords: Photoelectron spectroscopy; OER; Ir nanoparticles; Graphene membrane; Aqueous electrolyte

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Energy

Facility: BESSY II/HZB

Added On: 07/11/2018 09:19

Discipline Tags:

Energy Storage Earth Sciences & Environment Energy Climate Change Physical Chemistry Chemistry

Technical Tags: