Advanced Characterization Techniques for Doped Iridium-based Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts

Of late, the leaching of doped cations present in oxygen evolution electrocatalysts is reported to enhance oxygen evolution reaction performances. It is suggested that the enhancement is attributed to the increased roughness and modified composition of electrocatalyst surfaces during the dissolution of the cations. The detailed understanding of the enhancement has yet to be disclosed. In this project, iridium oxide-based electrocatalyst partially doped with monovalent cations will be prepared using aqua chemistry, and its electrochemical and physicochemical behavior during the oxygen evolution reaction will be analyzed with the aid of advanced in situ and ex situ characterization technqiues. This combinatorial research is expected to shed light on understanding and elucidation of the dissolution and reduction-oxidation phenomena of the doped cations present in the iridium oxide based electrocatalyst. Thereby, the influence towards oxygen evolution reaction caused by the aforementioned phenomena will be demonstrated. In addition, the findings will eventually help in designing more efficient electrocatalysts in favor of oxygen evolution reaction.

Faculty Supervisor:

Elod Lajos Gyenge

Student:

Partner:

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Green/Alternative Energy; Sustainability & the Environment; Environmental Science and Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: