(Invited) The Stability of Nanomaterials in Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Illustrated on Selected Examples

Abstract

Energy is the most valuable resource for human activity and the foundation for all human progress. Thereby, electrochemical processes are considered a crucial technology for our future society's energy landscape. Catalysts are fundamental components of these processes, and the ability to control their structure and composition during synthesis is essential for obtaining high-performance and stable catalysts while preserving critical resources. The stability of materials that can endure reaction conditions over extended periods is of immense significance. In nanoparticle systems, typical deactivation mechanisms include catalyst agglomeration, dissolution, coalescence, Ostwald ripening, support corrosion, or poisoning.[1] In this conference contribution, I will discuss the prerequisites for stable electrocatalysts using selected examples. I will demonstrate how the catalyst's environment and support material can prevent degradation based on our recent observations.[2-5][1] Y. Shao-Horn, W. C. Sheng, S. Chen, P. J. Ferreira, E. F. Holby, D. Morgan, Top. Catal., 46, 285-305, 2007, J. C. Meier, I. Katsounaros, C. Galeano, H. J. Bongard, A. A. Topalov, A. Kostka, A. Karschin, F. Schüth, K. J. J. Mayrhofer, Energy & Environmental Science 2012, 5, 9319-9330.[2] D. Göhl, H. Rueß, A. M. Mingers, K. J. J. Mayrhofer, J. M. Schneider, M. Ledendecker, J. Electrochem. Soc., 169, 011502, 2022[3] D. Göhl, A. Garg, P. Paciok, K. J. Mayrhofer, M. Heggen, Y. Shao-Horn, R. E. Dunin-Borkowski, Y. Román-Leshkov, M. Ledendecker, Nat. Mater., 19, 287-291, 2020[4] D. Göhl, H. Rueß, M. Pander, A. R. Zeradjanin, K. J. Mayrhofer, J. M. Schneider, A. Erbe, M. Ledendecker, J. Electrochem. Soc., 167, 021501, 2020[5] M. Ledendecker, S. Krick Calderón, C. Papp, H. P. Steinrück, M. Antonietti, M. Shalom, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 54, 12361-12365, 2015