Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acidic Media

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis offers advantages like higher efficiency and gas purity over alkaline systems.
• A major challenge in PEM electrolysis is the poor performance, stability, and high cost of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review and classify recently developed acidic OER electrocatalysts.
• To provide an atomistic-level understanding of OER mechanisms and catalyst activity-stability relationships.
• To address current challenges and propose future research directions for high-performance OER electrocatalysts in PEM water electrolysis.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and critical analysis of recent studies on acidic OER electrocatalysts.
• Classification and discussion of electrocatalyst properties, mechanisms, and stability.
• Evaluation of electrocatalyst performance in acidic electrolytes and PEM electrolyzers.

Main Results:

• Summary of various acidic OER electrocatalysts, highlighting their activity and stability.
• Discussion on the fundamental understanding of OER mechanisms and degradation pathways.
• Identification of challenges, including the use of carbon-based materials and performance discrepancies.

Conclusions:

• Recent advancements offer promising acidic OER electrocatalysts for PEM water electrolysis.
• A standardized stability test protocol is proposed for accurate intrinsic activity degradation assessment.
• Future research should focus on rational design and synthesis of cost-effective, highly stable OER electrocatalysts.