Recent advances in iridium-based catalysts with different dimensions for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is key for green hydrogen production.
• Iridium (Ir)-based catalysts are optimal for anodic oxygen evolution reactions (OER) due to stability in acidic media.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of recent advancements in dimensionally engineered Ir-based catalysts for acidic OER.
• To analyze the impact of dimensional engineering on catalyst performance and identify challenges.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on Ir-based catalysts with varying dimensions (0D, 1D, 2D, 3D).
• Analysis of nano-size, synergistic, and electronic effects on catalytic activity.
• Discussion of practical applications in PEM water electrolyzers (PEMWE).

Main Results:

• Dimensional engineering increases surface area and catalytic active sites.
• Different dimensional structures (0D, 1D, 2D, 3D) show varied OER performance.
• Promotional effects observed through nano-size, synergistic, and electronic effects.

Conclusions:

• Dimensional engineering is effective for enhancing Ir-based OER catalysts.
• Controllable synthesis of diverse dimensional structures presents a significant challenge.
• Further investigation into structure-performance correlations, especially during operation, is crucial.