Nanotubular TiOxNy-Supported Ir Single Atoms and Clusters as Thin-Film Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution in Acid Media

‍Reference:

Suhadolnik, L., Bele, M., Čekada, M., Jovanovic, P., Maselj, N., Lončar, A., Dražić, G., Šala, M., Hodnik, N., Kovač, J. and Montini, T., 2023. Nanotubular TiO x N y-Supported Ir Single Atoms and Clusters as Thin-Film Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution in Acid Media. Chemistry of Materials, 35(6), pp.2612-2623.

PI-KEM Product referenced:

Titanium Target

Abstract:

A versatile approach to the production of cluster- and single atom-based thin-film electrode composites is presented. The developed TiOxNy–Ir catalyst was prepared from sputtered Ti–Ir alloy constituted of 0.8 ± 0.2 at % Ir in α-Ti solid solution. The Ti–Ir solid solution on the Ti metal foil substrate was anodically oxidized to form amorphous TiO2–Ir and later subjected to heat treatment in air and in ammonia to prepare the final catalyst. Detailed morphological, structural, compositional, and electrochemical characterization revealed a nanoporous film with Ir single atoms and clusters that are present throughout the entire film thickness and concentrated at the Ti/TiOxNy–Ir interface as a result of the anodic oxidation mechanism. The developed TiOxNy–Ir catalyst exhibits very high oxygen evolution reaction activity in 0.1 M HClO4, reaching 1460 A g–1Ir at 1.6 V vs reference hydrogen electrode. The new preparation concept of single atom- and cluster-based thin-film catalysts has wide potential applications in electrocatalysis and beyond. In the present paper, a detailed description of the new and unique method and a high-performance thin film catalyst are provided along with directions for the future development of high-performance cluster and single-atom catalysts prepared from solid solutions.

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Keywords

Thin film, electrodes, Sputter coating, Catalyst

Authors:

Luka Suhadolnik 1, Marjan Bele 2, Miha Čekada 3, Primož Jovanovič 2, Nik Maselj 2, Anja Lončar 2,Goran Dražić 2, Martin Šala 4, Nejc Hodnik 2, Janez Kovač 5, Tiziano Montini 1, Michele Melchionna 1, and Paolo Fornasiero 1

Organisation / Department Address:

1. Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, CNR-ICCOM Trieste and INSTM Trieste Research Units, University of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy                                        
2. Department of Materials Chemistry, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia                                                              
3. Department of Thin Films and Surfaces, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
4. Department of Analytical Chemistry, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
5. Department of Surface Engineering, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia