Architecting Layered CoFeOOH for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction: Engineering Structure for an Anion Exchange Membrane...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• Metal oxyhydroxides show promise for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysis.
• Limited studies exist on the long-term stability of these materials in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWE).

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a stable layered metal oxyhydroxide catalyst for AEMWE.
• To investigate the long-term performance and durability of the catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a layered CoFeOOH structure via ion exchange and Fe doping.
• Utilized in situ Raman spectroscopy to characterize the chemical transformation.
• Tested the catalyst in an AEMWE system for oxygen evolution reaction performance and durability.

Main Results:

• Achieved a CoFeOOH catalyst with reduced layer d-spacing through K+ ion exchange.
• Demonstrated enhanced OER kinetics attributed to Fe incorporation.
• Obtained a performance of 2.0 A cm-2 at 1.8 V with exceptional long-term durability (2100 h, 49 mV kh-1 degradation).
• Verified catalyst stability through post-analysis of morphology and Fe:Co ratio.

Conclusions:

• The developed CoFeOOH catalyst offers a stable and highly active solution for OER in AEMWE.
• Fe doping and structural modification are effective strategies for enhancing catalyst performance and longevity.
• This work addresses the critical need for durable electrocatalysts in water electrolysis technologies.