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Nanostructured cobalt oxide powders as electro catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline membrane electrolysis cell (AME) were prepared by flame spray synthesis (FS); an AME's anode was then produced by depositing the FS prepared cobalt oxide powders on an AISI-316 sintered metal fiber by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. FS powders and the composite electrode were characterized by SEM, XRD, and XPS analysis. The electrode showed an increase in the OER catalytic activity in a KOH 0.5 M solution with respect to commercial materials commonly applied in alkaline electrolysis, demonstrating that the flame spray synthesis of nanoparticles combined with the electrophoretic deposition technique represent an effective methodology for producing an anodic catalyst for alkaline membrane electrolyzers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Nanostructured cobalt oxide anodes for alkaline membrane electrolysis cell (AME) were fabricated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method directly on AISI‐316 sintered metal fiber substrate, and the effect of different amounts of cobalt oxide was evaluated. The influence of the deposition condition on the microstructure and catalytic activity of the anodes was analyzed, showing different characteristics compared to the substrate steel structure. In particular, the catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in KOH 0.5 M solution showed an increase depending on the EPD conditions. The composite electrodes were also compared to other materials commonly applied in alkaline electrolysis in order to verify their effective electrocatalytic activity. In particular, the results were compared with electroplated platinum and cobalt with the aim of identifying the better synthesis technique. The results show that the EPD methodology can be adopted to provide an effective method for improving steel anodes of alkaline membrane electrolyzers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]