Stimulating Efficiency for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Splitting Electrolyzers: From Material Design to Electrode...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are crucial for hydrogen production but face challenges from acidic conditions and slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics.
• Iridium-based electrocatalysts (IBEs) are key, but their industrial use is limited by activity and durability issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of recent advancements in iridium-based electrocatalysts (IBEs) for PEMWEs.
• To analyze strategies for enhancing OER catalytic activity and durability under acidic conditions.
• To discuss mechanistic insights, degradation pathways, and future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of recent literature on iridium-based electrocatalysts for OER in PEMWEs.
• Examination of mechanistic insights into OER and Ir degradation pathways.
• Assessment of material design strategies including morphology, support, structure, phase, and electronic structure tuning.

Main Results:

• Novel optimization strategies for IBEs significantly enhance catalytic activity and durability.
• Morphology/support engineering, structure/phase modulation, and electronic structure tuning are effective approaches.
• Understanding degradation pathways is crucial for designing stable IBEs.

Conclusions:

• Advancements in IBEs, including rational design and electrode engineering, are vital for industrial PEMWE deployment.
• Further research into mechanistic clarity and scalable fabrication is needed.
• Focusing on efficient and durable OER catalysts will accelerate PEMWE technology.