Iridium Surface Oxide Affects the Nafion Interface in Proton-Exchange-Membrane Water Electrolysis

Berlinger, Sarah A.; Peng, Xiong; Luo, Xiaoyan; Dudenas, Peter J.; Zeng, Guosong; Yu, Haoran; Cullen, David A.; Weber, Adam Z.; Danilovic, Nemanja; Kusoglu, Ahmet

doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.4c01508

Iridium Surface Oxide Affects the Nafion Interface in Proton-Exchange-Membrane Water Electrolysis

Journal Article · Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · ACS Energy Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.4c01508· OSTI ID:2565272

^[1]; ^[1]; Luo, Xiaoyan ^[1]; Dudenas, Peter J. ^[1]; Zeng, Guosong ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[2]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)

Proton-exchange-membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) catalyst layers consist of aggregates of catalyst particles (typically iridium) and ionomer (typically Nafion). Prior work suggests that the oxide form of Ir affects the kinetics of the oxygen-evolution reaction. However, because most catalyst-benchmarking studies are conducted ex situ in liquid electrolytes, it remains unclear how the ionomer is influenced by the catalyst oxide and affects overall cell performance. Using a suite of experimental techniques, we conduct fundamental investigations into model ink (catalyst and ionomer dispersed in solution) and thin-film systems to inform cell-level overpotential analysis as a function of three forms of Ir (metallic Ir_m, oxyhydroxide IrOOH, and oxide IrO₂). Furthermore, nafion on Ir_m has a high degree of phase separation and higher swelling, likely improving the ionic conductivity. Additionally, Nafion binds most strongly to IrOOH, likely yielding reduced kinetic overpotentials. These findings highlight the intricacies of the ionomer/Ir interface and provide insight into all catalyst-layer systems.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 2565272

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2573270

Journal Information:: ACS Energy Letters, Journal Name: ACS Energy Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 9; ISSN 2380-8195

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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