Interfacial engineering to construct an IrOx/WO3 hetero-structured catalyst for efficient acidic OER catalysis

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) can be coupled with renewable energy power generation technology and is considered to be a highly promising hydrogen production technology. However, the acidic electrolyte environment, as well as the numerous sulfonic acid groups on the proton exchange membrane surface, can seriously corrode the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst and even cause deactivation. To develop an efficient acidic OER catalyst, the IrO_x/WO₃ heterostructure OER catalyst was prepared by a hydrothermal-calcination method. The coordination environment of IrO_x was regulated through the electronic rearrangement effect, improving the OER activity and stability of the catalyst in acidic media. The prepared IrO_x/WO₃ exhibits excellent OER activity in 0.5 M H₂SO₄, with an overpotential of only 260 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² and a mass activity of 176.8 A g_Ir⁻¹. It can stably operate for over 12 hours at a current density of j = 10 mA cm⁻².