Lead in the Presence of Iron under Alkaline Conditions for the Oxygen-Evolution Reaction

The oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) is a bottleneck in water splitting, which is a critical process for energy storage. In this study, the electrochemistry of Pb in the absence or presence of K₂FeO₄, as a soluble Fe source, is examined at pH ≈ 13. Our findings indicate that Pb exhibits limited catalytic activity for the OER under alkaline conditions. However, upon the addition of K₂FeO₄ to the electrolyte, a significant enhancement in the OER activity is observed in the presence of Pb. A notable observation in this study is the formation of stable Fe(IV) species following the OER during chronoamperometry experiments conducted in an alkaline solution. In addition to in situ Raman and visible spectroscopies, the operated electrodes have been characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical methods, electron paramagnetic resonance, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Through our experimental investigations, it is consistently observed that the presence of Fe ions on the surface of Pb/PbO serves as an effective catalyst for the OER. However, it is important to note that this heightened OER activity is only temporary due to the low adhesion of Fe ions on the surface of Pb/PbO.