Design of Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Nanostructured materials are widely used in different energy applications: fuel cells, electrolyzers, supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries, etc [1, 2]. Several synthetic approaches can be used for the preparation of CNTs, graphene, etc, such as CVD, exfoliation and other. Herein we report the adopted sacrificial support method (SSM) developed at UNM group [3-4] as a powerful tool for synthesis of materials for oxygen evolution from alkaline solutions. Several types of 3D structured materials such as carbon nanotubes, oxides, bi- and tri-metallic nickel-based alloys were synthesized by modified SSM. The morphology control was achieved by variation of silica and precursors type, as well as the ratio of silica to the precursor. After successful synthesis of those materials, the sacrificial support (SiO2) was leached using concentrated HF or by 7M KOH. Figure 1 represents a schematic synthesis of CNT-based materials by Sacrificial Support Method. Figure 1. Schematic view of CNT-based materials synthesis by Sacrificial Support Method. Different materials with controlled morphology were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET and XPS methods. Electrochemical performance in the reactions of oxygen reduction, oxygen evolution, was found to be promising for substitution of existing state-of-the-art platinum group metals catalysts.