IrCuNi Deeply Concave Nanocubes as Highly Active Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalyst in Acid Electrolyte

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers are crucial for sustainable hydrogen production.
• Efficient and stable anode catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic electrolytes remain a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel IrCuNi deeply concave nanocubes (DCNCs) as high-performance OER catalysts.
• To evaluate the catalytic activity and stability of IrCuNi DCNCs in acidic media for water electrolysis.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of IrCuNi DCNCs via selective etching of cubic nanoparticles.
• Electrochemical characterization of the catalysts using techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry.
• Performance evaluation for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at low iridium loading.

Main Results:

• IrCuNi DCNCs exhibited high OER activity, achieving a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 at an overpotential of 273 mV.
• The mass activity of IrCuNi DCNCs reached 6.6 A mg_Ir^-1 at 1.53 V, which is 19 times higher than pristine Ir.
• The unique multimetal concave nanostructures were identified as key to the enhanced catalytic performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed IrCuNi DCNCs represent a significant advancement in OER catalysis for acidic electrolytes.
• These findings offer a promising pathway for the fabrication of more efficient and cost-effective water electrolyzers.
• The study highlights the potential of precisely engineered nanostructures for improving electrocatalytic reactions.