Daisuke Takimoto, K. Fukuda, Shu Miyasaka
Mar 1, 2017
Citations
0
Influential Citations
28
Citations
Journal
Electrocatalysis
Abstract
AbstractRutile-type iridium dioxide (IrO2) is a well-known electrocatalyst, and its nanoparticle form has recently attracted attention as catalysts and co-catalysts in electrolyzers and fuel cells. In this study, we have successfully synthesized single crystalline iridium dioxide (IrO2) nanosheets with thickness of less than 0.7 nm via exfoliation of layered iridic acid HxIryOz·nH2O, which was prepared via proton exchange of layered potassium iridate, KxIryOz·nH2O. The electrochemically active surface area of the IrO2 nanosheet electrode was similar to or slightly lower than that of 3-nm IrO2 nanoparticles. Despite the lower active surface area, the mass activity for oxygen evolution reaction of IrO2 nanosheets was six times higher compared to that of IrO2 nanoparticles in 0.1 M HClO4 at 1.55 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (17.4 vs. 2.9 A g−1). When IrO2 nanosheets were added to commercial Pt/C as a co-catalyst, increased stability against high potential cycling was obtained. After potential cycling between 1.0 and 1.5 V, the composite catalyst exhibited two times higher oxygen reduction activity compared to non-modified Pt/C. This durability enhancement is attributed to the suppression of the particle growth during the potential cycling test by the modification with IrO2 nanosheets. Graphical AbstractIrO2 nanosheets are highly active as electrocatalysts for O2 evolution and O2 reduction