Mechanistic Validation of Lifetime Prediction for Chlorine Evolution Electrodes Using Accelerated Lifetime Tests.

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Predicting electrode longevity for industrial chlorine evolution reactions (CER) is essential for process reliability.
• Accelerated lifetime testing (ALT) is a common method to simulate long-term electrode degradation.
• Understanding deactivation mechanisms is key to improving electrode durability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the mechanistic validity of empirical lifetime prediction models for CER.
• To investigate the deactivation pathways of Ti/Ru_0.3Sn_0.35Ti_0.35O₂ electrodes under industrial conditions.
• To establish a framework for optimizing electrode stability.

Main Methods:

• Electrochemical characterization to analyze electrode performance.
• Structural characterization to identify deactivation mechanisms.
• Systematic variation of current density, temperature, and electrolyte concentration during ALT.

Main Results:

• The primary deactivation pathway identified was the thickening of an insulating oxide interlayer.
• Catalyst layer deactivation was confirmed as a minor pathway.
• The deactivation mechanism remained consistent across varied operating conditions.
• Operating parameters influenced the oxidation kinetics of the Ti substrate, thereby affecting electrode lifetime.

Conclusions:

• The study validates a mechanistically grounded framework for predicting electrode lifetime in CER.
• Insights gained enable optimization of electrode stability for industrial applications.
• The findings highlight the importance of managing interlayer oxide formation for durable electrodes.