Dual-interface stabilization of low-iridium anodes for durable proton exchange membrane water electrolysis.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42401560.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-75113-6.
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Abstract
The durability and cost of iridium-based anodes remain key challenges for high-current density operation of proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. Here, we report a dual-interface stabilization strategy based on atomic layer deposition of TiO<sub>2</sub> onto IrO<sub>2</sub> catalysts. The resulting anodes sustain operation at 3.0 A cm<sup>-2</sup> for 2600 h with near-zero voltage degradation at an iridium loading of 0.4 mg cm<sup>-2</sup>, whereas bare IrO<sub>2</sub> exhibits continuous voltage decay over 1000 h at a rate of 31.5 mV kh<sup>-1</sup>. Combined experimental characterization and theoretical calculations reveal that interfacial Ti-O-Ir coupling suppresses Ir over-oxidation and dissolution, while the TiO<sub>2</sub>-coated surface strengthens ionomer-catalyst interactions and preserves mass-transport pathways during prolonged operation. This strategy is fully compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing, enabling industrially scalable implementation. This interfacial engineering approach offers a generalizable design principle for extending electrolyzer lifetime and reducing precious-metal loading across diverse electrochemical energy conversion technologies.