IrW nanochannel support enabling ultrastable electrocatalytic oxygen evolution at 2 A cm−2 in acidic media

Abstract

A grand challenge for proton exchange membrane electrolyzers is the rational design of oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts to balance activity and stability. Here, we report a support-stabilized catalyst, the activated ~200 nm-depth IrW nanochannel that achieves the current density of 2 A cm^-2 at an overpotential of only ~497 mV and maintains ultrastable gas evolution at 100 mA cm^-2 at least 800 h with a negligible degradation rate of ~4 μV h^-1. Structure analyses combined with theoretical calculations indicate that the IrW support alters the charge distribution of surface (IrO₂)_n clusters and effectively confines the cluster size within 4 (n≤4). Such support-stabilizing effect prevents the surface Ir from agglomeration and retains a thin layer of electrocatalytically active IrO₂ clusters on surface, realizing a win-win strategy for ultrahigh OER activity and stability. This work would open up an opportunity for engineering suitable catalysts for robust proton exchange membrane-based electrolyzers.