Carbon nanofiber-supported tantalum oxides as durable catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media Articles uri icon

authors

  • RUIZ CORNEJO, J. C.
  • VIVO VILCHES, JOSE FRANCISCO
  • SEBASTIAN, D.
  • MARTINEZ HUERTA, M. V.
  • LAZARO, M. J.

publication date

  • November 2021

start page

  • 307

end page

  • 317

volume

  • 178

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0960-1481

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1879-0682

abstract

  • Active and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), capable of replacing noble metal catalysts, are required to develop efficient and competitive devices within the frame of the water electrolysis technology for hydrogen production. In this work, we have investigated tantalum based catalysts supported on carbon nanofibers (CNF) for the first time. The effect of CNF characteristics and the catalyst annealing temperature on the electrochemical response for the OER have been analyzed in alkaline environment using a rotating ring disc electrode (RRDE). The best OER activity and oxygen efficiency were found with a highly graphitic CNF, despite its lower surface area, synthesized at 700 °C, and upon a catalyst annealing temperature of 800 °C. The ordering degree of carbon nanofibers favors the production of oxygen in combination with a low oxygen content in tantalum oxides. The most active catalyst exhibited also an excellent durability.

subjects

  • Chemistry
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Materials science and engineering
  • Renewable Energies

keywords

  • tantalum; sodium tantalate; oxygen evolution reaction; carbon nanofiber; electrocatalyst