High-Efficiency Catalytic Interface IrO _x/CeO₂ with Adsorbate Evolution Mechanism Boosts Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acid Media

Abstract

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acid media has been intensively studied recently for its important role in proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. CeO₂-based nanomaterials have been widely used in various applications for their redox properties, oxygen vacancy, and surface activity. CeO₂-based nanocatalysts also exhibit superior catalytic performance in OER in acid media. Herein, we fabricated a highly efficient catalytic interface between IrO _x and CeO₂ (IrO _x/CeO₂), which showed a boosting OER activity with an overpotential of 217 mV at the current density of 10 mA/cm² and long-term stability for 10 h in 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄, which were better than those of many reported catalysts. The in situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry results demonstrated that IrO _x/CeO₂ and the commercial IrO₂ (IrO₂-com) followed the adsorbate evolution mechanism, whereas the pure CeO₂ surface followed the lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism under the same conditions for OER. These indicated that the interface of IrO _x and CeO₂ improved mass transfer efficiency and reactivity, which also prevented the lattice oxygen evolution in the CeO₂ structure and protected the whole structure. This work finds a new way for OER in acid media catalyzed by CeO₂-based nanocatalysts and promotes the design strategy for other CeO₂-based nanostructures.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

OER / Rare-earth oxide / Ir-O cluster / Acid electrolyte

References

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