Catalyst-integrated gas diffusion electrodes for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis : porous titanium sheets with nanostructured TiO2 surfaces decorated with Ir electrocatalysts

Yasutake, Masahiro and Kawachino, Daiki and Noda, Zhiyun and Matsuda, Junko and Lyth, Stephen M. and Ito, Kohei and Hayashi, Akari and Sasaki, Kazunari (2020) Catalyst-integrated gas diffusion electrodes for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis : porous titanium sheets with nanostructured TiO2 surfaces decorated with Ir electrocatalysts. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 167 (12). 124523. ISSN 0013-4651 (https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/abb37d)

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Abstract

Novel catalyst-integrated gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) cells are presented, in which porous titanium microfiber sheets are etched in NaOH to generate a nanostructured TiO2 surface, followed by arc plasma deposition (APD) of iridium nanoparticles. The porous titanium sheet acts as a gas diffusion layer (GDL); the nanostructured TiO2 surface acts as a catalyst support with large surface area; and the iridium nanoparticles act as the electrocatalyst. The performance of these unique GDEs in PEMWE cells was optimized by etching in different NaOH concentrations to vary the nanostructure of the TiO2; and by varying the Ir loading via the number of APD pulses. The current-voltage characteristics and the durability of the optimized GDEs were comparable to those reported in the literature using conventional Ir-based electrocatalysts, and electrolysis was achieved with current density up to 5 A cm-2. The main advantages of this catalyst-integrated GDE include the very low iridium loading (i.e. around 0.1 mg cm-2, or just one-tenth of the loading typically used in conventional PEMWEs); high electrolysis current density; the fabrication of stacks with fewer components; and the fabrications of thinner stacks. This could ultimately lead to smaller and lower cost PEMWE systems.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:85556
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    9 September 2020
    Published
    7 September 2020
    Accepted
    21 May 2020
    Submitted
    Notes:Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Published on behalf of The Electrochemical Society by IOP Publishing Limited. Masahiro Yasutake et al 2020 J. Electrochem. Soc. 167 124523 DOI 10.1149/1945-7111/abb37d
    Subjects:Science > Chemistry
    Department:Faculty of Engineering > Chemical and Process Engineering
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:18 May 2023 10:29
    Last modified:09 Apr 2024 04:04
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/85556
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