Durable oxygen evolution electrocatalysts

Abstract

Oxygen evolution electrocatalysts, electrodes using oxygen evolution electrocatalysts, and methods of making oxygen evolution electrocatalysts are provided. The oxygen evolution electrocatalyst includes an oxide electrocatalyst and a permselective amorphous layer deposited on the oxide electrocatalyst. In this regard, the permselective amorphous layer may prevent diffusion of redox ions but permit diffusion of hydroxide ions and evolved O2 through the permselective amorphous layer.

1 . An oxygen evolution electrocatalyst comprising:
 an oxide electrocatalyst; and   a permselective amorphous layer deposited on the oxide electrocatalyst,   wherein the permselective amorphous layer prevents diffusion of redox ions but permits diffusion of hydroxide ions to the oxide electrocatalyst.   
     
     
         2 . The oxygen evolution electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxide electrocatalyst comprises an oxide of a transition metal. 
     
     
         3 . The oxygen evolution electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxide electrocatalyst comprises at least one of NiO x  CoO x , FeO x , MnO x , IrO x , RuO x , or any combination thereof to form a mixed oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The oxygen evolution electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxide electrocatalyst comprises NiFeO x  or CoFeO x . 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The oxygen evolution electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the permselective amorphous layer comprises a catalytically inactive material. 
     
     
         7 . The oxygen evolution electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the permselective amorphous layer comprises at least one of CeO x , TiO x , AlO x , ZnO x , ZrO x , SiO x , CaO x , MgO x , or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The oxygen evolution electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the permselective amorphous layer comprises CeO x ; wherein the permselective amorphous layer comprises a thickness from about 100 nm to about 600 nm; and/or wherein the permselective amorphous layer is deposited approximately uniformly on the oxide electrocatalyst. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An electrode comprising:
 a substrate; and   an oxygen evolution electrocatalyst, the oxygen evolution electrocatalyst comprising:
 an oxide electrocatalyst; and 
 a permselective amorphous layer disposed on the oxide electrocatalyst, 
 wherein the permselective amorphous layer prevents diffusion of redox ions but permits diffusion of hydroxide ions to the oxide electrocatalyst. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electrode according to  claim 11 , wherein the substrate comprises a conductive substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode according to  claim 11 , wherein the substrate comprises at least one of cobalt, gold, nickel, a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate, a gold-coated FTO substrate or any combination thereof and optionally, wherein the oxide electrocatalyst comprises an oxide of a transition metal. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The electrode according to  claim 11 , wherein the oxide electrocatalyst comprises at least one of NiO x , CoO x , FeO x , MnO x , IrO x , RuO x , or any combination thereof to form a mixed oxide. 
     
     
         17 . The electrode according to  claim 11 , wherein the oxide electrocatalyst comprises NiFeO x  or CoFeO x . 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The electrode according to  claim 11 , wherein the permselective amorphous layer comprises a catalytically inactive material. 
     
     
         20 . The electrode according to  claim 11 , wherein: (i) the permselective amorphous layer comprises at least one of CeO x , TiO x , AlO x , ZnO x , ZrO x , SiO x , CaO x , MgO x , or any combination thereof; (ii) permselective amorphous layer comprises a thickness from about 100 nm to about 600 nm and/or the permselective amorphous layer is deposited approximately uniformly on the oxide electrocatalyst. 
     
     
         21 . The electrode according to  claim 11 , wherein the permselective amorphous layer comprises CeO x . 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of making an oxygen evolution electrocatalyst, the method comprising:
 providing an oxide electrocatalyst; and   depositing a permselective amorphous layer on the oxide electrocatalyst via anodic deposition,   wherein the permselective amorphous layer prevents diffusion of redox ions but permits diffusion of hydroxide ions to the oxide electrocatalyst.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein depositing the permselective amorphous layer comprises depositing the permselective amorphous layer approximately uniformly on the oxide electrocatalyst. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the oxide electrocatalyst comprises an oxide of a transition metal. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the oxide electrocatalyst comprises at least one of NiO x , CoO x , FeO x , MnO x , IrO x , RuO x , or any combination thereof to form a mixed oxide. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein: (i) the oxide electrocatalyst comprises NiFeO x  or CoFeO x ; ii) the permselective amorphous layer comprises at least one of CeO x , TiO x , AlO x , ZnO x , ZrO x , SiO x , CaO x , MgO x , or any combination thereof; and/or (iii) the permselective amorphous layer comprises CeO x . 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled)