Mutil-phase interfacial design for developing low noble metal water electrolysis catalysts

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01661
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 26050:Material processing and microstructure control-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Todoroki Naoto 東北大学, 環境科学研究科, 准教授 (10734345)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 水素 / 水電解 / 酸素発生反応 / 電極触媒 / 界面

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of different phase interfaces on the catalytic properties of water electrolytic oxygen evolution using catalyst-support two-phase interface and catalyst-support-electrolyte three-phase interface model catalysts with well-defined surface and interface structures. In the two-phase interface model, the insertion of SnO2 as an intermediate layer between the RuO2 catalyst and TiO2 support model was shown to eliminate the structural and electrical mismatch and significantly improve the catalytic activity and durability. In the three-phase interface model, we found that the oxygen-evolving reaction activity was significantly different depending on the measured location of the island structure. These results suggest that structural control of the two- and three-phase hetero-interfaces of metal-oxides is important for the improvement of oxygen-evolving catalytic properties.

Free Research Field

電極触媒、水電解、表面科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の遂行により、Ru酸化物触媒と導電性担体間の二相・三相界面を制御することにより酸素発生触媒活性・耐久性を向上するための重要な基礎的知見が得られた。酸素発生触媒は水素社会を実現するためのキーテクノロジーの一つである水電解水素製造装置のボトルネック技術であり、特に既往のIr酸化物触媒代替材料の開発は喫緊の課題である。本研究で研究対象としてRu酸化物はIr酸化物代替触媒の有力候補であり、本研究で得られた界面制御の知見を実用材料に生かすことにより、水電解法による水素製造効率の向上、水素コストの低減が期待される。