Recent Advances in Iridium-based Electrocatalysts for Acidic Electrolyte Oxidation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Efficient electrocatalysts are vital for energy conversion and carbon-free energy sources, particularly for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
• Acidic electrolytes offer advantages for OER but demand catalysts with superior corrosion and oxidation resistance.
• Iridium oxide (IrO2) is the current standard but faces challenges due to iridium's scarcity, high cost, and suboptimal activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in iridium-based electrocatalysts for acidic oxygen evolution reactions.
• To highlight strategies for optimizing catalyst performance and stability in harsh acidic environments.
• To discuss future challenges and prospects for developing highly effective acidic OER catalysts.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent research on iridium-based acidic OER electrocatalysts.
• Analysis of fundamental understanding of acidic OER mechanisms.
• Evaluation of catalyst stability and activity optimization strategies.

Main Results:

• Significant progress has been made in understanding acidic OER mechanisms and catalyst stability.
• Various strategies have been developed to enhance the efficiency of iridium-based OER electrocatalysts.
• Despite advances, challenges related to iridium's cost and catalyst activity persist.

Conclusions:

• Further research on iridium-based catalysts is essential for advancing acidic OER technology.
• Optimizing stability and activity is key to overcoming current limitations.
• Developing cost-effective and highly efficient catalysts is critical for sustainable energy applications.