Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
10:22
In Situ SIMS and IR Spectroscopy of Well-defined Surfaces Prepared by Soft Landing of Mass-selected Ions
Published on: June 16, 2014
18.3K
Support-tuned iridium reconstruction with crystalline phase dominating acidic oxygen evolution.
Kexin Zhang1, Xiao Liang1, Yucheng Wang2
1State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Nature Communications
|September 1, 2025
Summary
This study reveals a new way to create stable and active oxygen evolution electrocatalysts. A TiOx@Ti substrate guides iridium nanoparticles to form crystalline IrO2, overcoming the usual activity-stability trade-off.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Iridium-based electrocatalysts are crucial for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) but suffer from an activity-stability trade-off.
- Surface amorphization into hydrous iridium oxide (IrOx) phases and lattice oxygen involvement limit performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a novel reconstruction pathway for supported iridium nanoparticles.
- To engineer electrocatalysts that resolve the activity-stability conflict in acidic OER.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a TiOx@Ti substrate to guide the phase transition of supported iridium nanoparticles.
- Performed mechanistic and structural analyses to confirm the reconstruction pathway and reaction mechanism.
- Evaluated catalyst performance in three-electrode systems and proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers.
Main Results:
- Discovered a support-guided bulk phase transition from metallic Ir to crystalline rutile IrO2.
- Observed a shift in the OER mechanism from lattice oxygen mechanism to complete adsorbate evolution mechanism.
- Achieved high activity and durability for the Ir/TiOx@Ti catalyst in acidic media.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated that bulk phase engineering of iridium electrocatalysts, guided by the support, can overcome the activity-stability trade-off.
- Redefined the role of supports in electrocatalyst reconstruction for enhanced OER performance.
- This approach offers a new strategy for designing efficient and durable electrocatalysts for water splitting.
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