Challenges developing supports for iridium oxide water oxidation catalysts

The transition to a zero-carbon society has highlighted hydrogen as a potential energy carrier, with proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis being the most promising technology for green hydrogen production. However, the scarcity of iridium is a bottleneck for the large-scale implementation of PEM electrolysers, where high loadings of iridium oxide is currently used to catalyse water oxidation and to sustain an integrated conductive layer. To overcome this limitation, iridium loading can be reduced by introducing a catalyst support. But finding materials that are stable and conductive under the oxidative and acidic conditions of this process is extremely challenging. Most materials suffer from oxidation, and subsequent passivation and/or dissolution during the reaction. Herein, the challenges and criteria for searching suitable candidates as supports for iridium oxide water oxidation catalysts will be introduced and explained.

Biography:
Guangmeimei (Meimei) Yang is a President’s PhD scholar at Department of Chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Andreas Kafizas, Prof. Ifan Stephens and Dr. Reshma Rao. Her research focuses on green hydrogen production, specifically with proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis. Prior to that, she obtained an MRes in Nanomaterials with distinction from Imperial College and a First-Class Honours undergraduate degree from Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Her research interest involves electrocatalysis, corrosion sciences and materials characterisation.