Long-term stability challenges and opportunities in acidic oxygen evolution electrocatalysis

• Main Authors: Wang, Qilun, Cheng, Yaqi, Tao, Hua Bing, Liu, Yuhang, Ma, Xuehu, Li, Dong-Sheng, Yang, Hong Bin, Liu, Bin
• Other Authors: School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Chemical engineering; Operando Characterization; Oxygen Evolution Reaction
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/172389
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) has been regarded as a promising technology for renewable hydrogen production. However, acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts with long-term stability impose a grand challenge in its large-scale industrialization. In this review, critical factors that may lead to catalyst's instability in couple with potential solutions are comprehensively discussed, including mechanical peeling, substrate corrosion, active-site over-oxidation/dissolution, reconstruction, oxide crystal structure collapse through the lattice oxygen-participated reaction pathway, etc. Last but not least, personal prospects are provided in terms of rigorous stability evaluation criteria, in situ/operando characterizations, economic feasibility and practical electrolyzer consideration, highlighting the ternary relationship of structure evolution, industrial-relevant activity and stability to serve as a roadmap towards the ultimate application of PEMWE.