Understanding Degradation Mechanisms in SrIrO3 Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts: Chemical and Structural Microscopy at the Nanoscale. (17th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ben‐Naim, Micha; Liu, Yunzhi; Stevens, Michaela Burke; Lee, Kyuho; Wette, Melissa R.; Boubnov, Alexey; Trofimov, Artem A.; Ievlev, Anton V.; Belianinov, Alex; Davis, Ryan C.; Clemens, Bruce M.; Bare, Simon R.; Hikita, Yasuyuki; Hwang, Harold Y.; Higgins, Drew C.; Sinclair, Robert; Jaramillo, Thomas F.
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 31:Number 34(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-06-17
• Subjects: electrocatalysis -- mass spectrometry imaging -- oxygen evolution reaction -- secondary ion mass spectrometry -- transmission electron microscopy; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202101542
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract: Designing acid‐stable oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts is key to developing sustainable energy technologies such as polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers but has proven challenging due to the high applied anodic potentials and corrosive electrolyte. This work showcases advanced nanoscale microscopy techniques supported by complementary structural and chemical characterization to develop a fundamental understanding of stability in promising SrIrO3 thin film electrocatalyst materials. Cross‐sectional high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy illustrates atomic‐scale bulk and surface structure, while secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging using a helium ion microscope provides the nanoscale lateral elemental distribution at the surface. After accelerated degradation tests under anodic potential, the SrIrO3 film thins and roughens, but the lateral distribution of Sr and Ir remains homogeneous. A layer‐wise dissolution mechanism is hypothesized, wherein anodic potential causes the IrO x ‐rich surface to dissolve and be regenerated by Sr leaching. The characterization approaches utilized herein and mechanistic insights into SrIrO3 are translatable to a wide range of catalyst systems. Abstract : Understanding material stability and degradation mechanisms are key to designing stable catalysts. Here, the durability of SrIrO3 oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts is probed by correlating cross‐sectional transmission electron microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry chemical imaging to develop a 3D structure. Post‐test materials characterization allows for identification of a layer‐by‐layer dissolution pathway during electrocatalytic operation.