Photochemical Route for Accessing Amorphous Metal Oxide Materials for Water Oxidation Catalysis

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1233638
• Publication Date: 2013-03-29T04:54:31Z
• Authors: Rodney D. L. Smith; Mathieu S. Prévot; Randal D. Fagan; Zhipan Zhang; Pavel A. Sedach; Man Kit Jack Siu; Simon Trudel; Curtis P. Berling...
• Keywords: Noble metal; Oxygen evolution; Methanation; Cobalt oxide

Large-scale electrolysis of water for hydrogen generation requires better catalysts to lower the kinetic barriers associated with oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Although most OER are based on crystalline mixed-metal oxides, high activities can also be achieved amorphous phases. Methods producing materials, however, not typically amenable compositions. We demonstrate that a low-temperature process, photochemical metal-organic deposition, produce (mixed) metal oxide films catalysis. The contain homogeneous distribution metals compositions accurately controlled. catalytic properties iron prepared this technique superior those hematite, whereas a-Fe(100-y-z)Co(y)Ni(z)O(x) comparable noble currently used in commercial electrolyzers.