Cobalt-Based Double Electrodeposited Catalysis for Efficient Oxygen Evolution in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

Abstract

To produce green hydrogen using anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE), high-performance oxygen evolution catalysts are needed. This study presents a novel strategy for increasing the intrinsic and extrinsic activities of Co-based catalysts through sequential electrodeposition of Fe and Co. In a single AEMWE cell, the double-electrodeposited Fe@Co electrode demonstrated a current density of 1,780 mA cm-2 at 1.8V at 50°C. The enhancement of catalytic activity was clearly observed in the Co-Fe pair, but it was not evident in Co catalyst synthesized with other metals. The discovery and analysis of double electroplating provide an innovative approach to non-noble-metal AEMWE, which is an important step toward cost-effective green hydrogen generation.