Platinum Nanoparticles Decorated IrO 2 @MWCNT as an Improved Catalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

• Published in: ChemistrySelect (Weinheim) 2021-08, Vol.6 (29), p.7542-7550
• Main Authors: Cheng, Yaping, Yang, Fan, Gong, Jiafang, Wu, Bohua, Zhang, Zhao, Chu, Jia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2365-6549; 2365-6549
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.202101127

In this paper, IrO 2 nanoparticles supported on multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and calcination process at different temperature. Platinum nanoparticles decorated IrO 2 @MWCNT‐400 °C are prepared by chemical reduction method. The influence of MWCNTs and Pt on physicochemical properties and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity of IrO 2 @MWCNT composites were studied via transmission electron microscope (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) and electrochemical methods. Among the samples, Pt/IrO 2 @MWCNT‐400 °C exhibits better catalytic activity with an overpotential of 270 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm −2 with a low Tafel slope of 85.1 mV dec −1 . The outstanding OER performance of Pt/IrO 2 @MWCNT‐400 °C is ascribed to the introduction of the MWCNTs, which can not only act as a support to prevent agglomeration of IrO 2 nanoparticles that produces high surface area of catalytic sites, but also facilitates electron transfer between IrO 2 nanoparticles and MWCNTs. On the other hand, the Pt optimizes electronic structure for excellent electrocatalytic performance. Therefore, the Pt/IrO 2 @MWCNT‐400 °C catalyst is a good choice for application in OER.