Catalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis with Low Iridium Loading developed

Erlangen, 12. Juli 2024 - Green hydrogen is a promising energy carrier that can bridge the gap between the supply and demand of renewable energies. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is one of the most promising technologies to produce hydrogen. However, its large-scale implementation is currently delayed due to the utilization of iridium as the anodic catalyst which is extraordinarily scarce and expensive.

Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN) have now developed a new catalyst that allows a reduction in the amount of iridium required in a PEMWE cell. To achieve this, a facile photodeposition-based synthesis method for a TiO₂@IrO_xcore-shell electrocatalyst with a low iridium content of 40 wt% was developed, and its superior performance in a proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) was demonstrated. Owing to the low iridium content, this novel catalyst is specifically suited for reducing the iridium loading below 0.5 mg_Ir cm^‑2 while maintaining a sufficient catalyst layer thickness.

The new catalyst doubles the iridium utilization, thereby reducing the amount of iridium needed in a PEMWE cell.

Their work was recently published in the renowned journal "Advanced Science".

Catalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis with Low Iridium Loading developed — Schematic of crack formation in the anodic catalyst layer in PEMWE, showcasing the increased layer thickness of the new catalyst and the associated performance increase due to a higher iridium utilization.

Original Publication

Photodeposition-Based Synthesis of TiO₂@IrO_x Core–Shell Catalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis with Low Iridium Loading
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202402991
Journal: Advanced Science
License: CC BY 4.0