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A Stable Graphitic, Nanocarbon-Encapsulated, Cobalt-Rich Core-Shell Electrocatalyst as an Oxygen Electrode in a Water Electrolyzer

Journal Article · · Advanced Energy Materials
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Department of Energy Science & Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988 Republic of Korea
  2. Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland WA 99354 USA

The oxygen electrode plays a vital role in the successful commercialization of renewable energy technologies, such as fuel cells and water electrolyzers. In this study, the Prussian blue analogue-derived nitrogen-doped nanocarbon (NC) layer-trapped, cobalt-rich, core–shell nanostructured electrocatalysts (core–shell Co@NC) are reported. The electrode exhibits an improved oxygen evolution activity and stability compared to that of the commercial noble electrodes. The core–shell Co@NC-loaded nickel foam exhibits a lower overpotential of 330 mV than that of IrO2 on nickel foam at 10 mA cm-2 and has a durability of over 400 h. The commercial Pt/C cathode-assisted, core–shell Co@NC–anode water electrolyzer delivers 10 mA cm-2 at a cell voltage of 1.59 V, which is 70 mV lower than that of the IrO2–anode water electrolyzer. Over the long-term chronopotentiometry durability testing, the IrO2–anode water electrolyzer shows a cell voltage loss of 230 mV (14%) at 95 h, but the loss of the core–shell Co@NC–anode electrolyzer is only 60 mV (4%) even after 350 h cell-operation. The findings indicate that the Prussian blue analogue is a class of inorganic nanoporous materials that can be used to derive metal-rich, core–shell electrocatalysts with enriched active centers.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1439684
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-127978; GT0200000
Journal Information:
Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 8; ISSN 1614-6832
Publisher:
Wiley
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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