Overview
The performance of oxygen evolution electrocatalysts is strongly influenced by their electronic structure and catalyst–substrate interactions. In this project, I investigated how different porous transport layer (PTL) substrates regulate the electronic properties of NiMoO₄ nanowires and affect their catalytic performance in anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE).
Research Approach
NiMoO₄ nanowires were directly grown on stainless-steel fiber paper (SSP), carbon paper (CP), and nickel fiber paper (NFP) through a hydrothermal process. By combining structural, morphological, and surface chemical analyses with electrochemical measurements, the relationship between substrate-induced electronic modulation and oxygen evolution activity was systematically evaluated.
Key Findings
- Direct growth of binder-free NiMoO₄ nanowire electrodes on porous transport layers.
- Stainless-steel fiber paper induced favorable electronic interactions and enhanced Ni³⁺ formation.
- Improved charge-transfer kinetics and oxygen evolution activity.
- Achieved an overpotential of 230 mV at 10 mA cm⁻².
- Demonstrated excellent performance in practical AEM water electrolysis systems.
Impact
This work highlights substrate engineering as an effective strategy for tuning catalyst electronic structures and improving electrocatalytic performance. The findings provide insights into the design of integrated catalyst/PTL architectures for efficient green hydrogen production.