Water oxidation is a critical transformation for (photo)electrochemical energy conversion.  Both single-metal and mixed-metal oxides have been widely investigated as efficient and economic catalysts for this process under alkaline conditions, but efforts to catalyze water oxidation near neutral pH have largely focused on single-metal oxides (e.g., NiOx or CoOx) that may be prepared by electrodeposition. As rational design of electrocatalysts remains challenging, we recently developed a new combinatorial method for screening electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution (see: Gerken, et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012 , 51, 6676-6680). The method, which uses a fluorescence-quenching-based method for O2 detection, has been used to evaluate the activity landscape of mixed-metal oxides at pH 7. Several promising metal-oxide compositions have been identified that highlight the synergistic effects of different metal cations in the oxide material. The electrochemical activities and stabilities of these mixed-metal oxides relative to their single metal analogues will be discussed, as well as ongoing efforts to understand and optimize these promising materials.

Mixed-metal oxide electrocatalysts for water oxidation under neutral pH conditions

246th National Meeting (2013)

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