Issue 39, 2015

Synthesis of Cu–Ir nanocages with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Iridium (Ir) is widely used as a catalyst in polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). However, high cost and limited catalytic performance of Ir hamper its large-scale industrial application. Here, based on a modified galvanic replacement, we introduce Cu nanoparticles as a template to prepare single-crystalline Cu–Ir polyhedral nanocages (NCs). Alloying Ir with 3d transition metal Cu not only significantly reduces the loading of Ir but also remarkably enhances its catalytic activity by forming a unique NC structure and tuning the d-band structure of Ir. The as-prepared single-crystalline Cu1.11Ir NCs exhibit enhanced catalytic activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in 0.05 M H2SO4, with a smaller overpotential (286 mV) required for a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 43.8 mV per decade. The mass activity can reach 73 mA mgIr−1 at an overpotential of 0.28 V for Cu1.11Ir NCs. Hence, the obtained Cu1.11Ir NCs would be a promising electrocatalyst for practical electrocatalytic water splitting systems.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of Cu–Ir nanocages with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
15 Jul 2015
Accepted
03 Sep 2015
First published
03 Sep 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 19669-19673

Synthesis of Cu–Ir nanocages with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction

C. Wang, Y. Sui, G. Xiao, X. Yang, Y. Wei, G. Zou and B. Zou, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 19669 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA05384F

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