Water Oxidation Catalysis: Electrocatalytic Response to Metal Stoichiometry in Amorphous Metal Oxide Films Containing Iron, Cobalt, and Nickel

• DOI: 10.1021/ja403102j
• Publication Date: 2013-07-24T19:18:54Z
• Authors: Rodney D. L. Smith; Mathieu S. Prévot; Randal D. Fagan; Simon Trudel; Curtis P. Berling...
• Keywords: Cobalt oxide

Photochemical metal–organic deposition (PMOD) was used to prepare amorphous metal oxide films containing specific concentrations of iron, cobalt, and nickel study how composition affects heterogeneous electrocatalytic water oxidation. Characterization the by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy photoelectron confirmed excellent stoichiometric control each 21 complex investigated. In studying electrochemical oxidation catalyzed respective films, it found that small iron produced a significant improvement in Tafel slopes cobalt or were critical lowering voltage at which catalysis commences. The best catalytic parameters series obtained for film a-Fe20Ni80. An extrapolation XPS data indicates optimal behavior this binary be manifestation stabilizing higher level. This work represents first mechanistic phases ternary oxides use as catalysts, provides foundation broad exploration other mixed-metal combinations.