Materials Science and Engineering
Graduate Student Jin Suntivich (left) and Mechanical Engineering Graduate
Student Kevin J. May (right) inspecting the electrochemical cell for oxygen
evolution reaction experiment.
Photo: Jonathon R. Harding
The electrolysis of water is an electrochemical reaction
which utilizes electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This
process is utilized in energy-storage systems (e.g. electrolyzers) for hydrogen
fuel production and recharging batteries. It requires two catalysts for an effective
reaction: one to liberate hydrogen and another to separate oxygen. The oxygen
reaction, named the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), is the limiting step in
this process.
Researchers at MIT, led by professor Shao-Horn, discovered a
new catalyst for the OER. The compound, consisting of cobalt, iron, and oxygen
with other metals, splits oxygen at least 10 times faster than iridium oxide, the
current gold standard for these reactions.
This discovery was the result of knowledge gained from an
experimental study on the activity of 10 known catalysts. Reactivity was found
to be dependent on the configuration of the outermost electron of transition
metal ions. This information led to the prediction of the new compound's high
reactivity. Subsequent lab tests verified these conclusions.
Like iridium oxide, the newly discovered catalyst requires
an alkaline solution environment to function. Current research is now being
done to find ways to utilize this catalyst in an "artificial
leaf" for lower cost, self-contained electrolyzing systems.
The team plans to continue searching for even more efficient
materials and compounds which will continue to advance the field of energy
storage, a key player in the future of sustainable technology.
Source: MIT News
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