Hexadecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide promotes electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for renewable energy technologies including water splitting, fuel cells, and metal-air batteries.
• Improving OER efficiency is key to advancing these sustainable energy solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the oxygen evolution reaction rate by modifying electrolyte composition.
• To engineer the electrochemically active surface area of electrocatalysts.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of hexadecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide into alkaline electrolytes to alter OER performance.
• Electrochemical conditioning using ammonia borane to modify electrocatalyst surface area.
• Testing OER performance on Fe_1-yNi_yS₂@Fe_1-xNi_xOOH microplatelets and SrBaNi₂Fe₁₂O₂₂ powders.

Main Results:

• Hexadecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide adsorption increases OH^- ions near the electrocatalyst surface, promoting OER.
• Electrocatalysts like Fe_1-yNi_yS₂@Fe_1-xNi_xOOH and SrBaNi₂Fe₁₂O₂₂ show improved OER performance.
• Ammonia borane conditioning yields larger electrochemically active surface areas for Fe_1-yNi_yS₂@Fe_1-xNi_xOOH microplatelets.

Conclusions:

• Adjusting electrolyte composition with hexadecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide is an effective strategy to boost OER.
• Electrochemical conditioning with ammonia borane offers a novel method for enhancing electrocatalyst surface area and OER activity.
• These findings contribute to the development of more efficient renewable energy technologies.