Search

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 IrOx/WO3 heterostructure OER catalyst was prepared by a hydrothermal-calcination method. The coordination environment of IrOx was regulated through the electronic rearrangement effect, improving the OER activity and stability of the catalyst in acidic media. The prepared IrOx/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 gIr−1. It can stably operate for over 12 hours at a current density of j = 10 mA cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]