Membrane electrolysis—History, current status and perspective

Effect of lattice strain on the electro-catalytic activity of IrO2 for water splitting

Lattice strain control of the OER activity of IrO₂.

Rational Manipulation of IrO2 Lattice Strain on α-MnO2 Nanorods as a Highly Efficient Water-Splitting Catalyst

Developing more efficient and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts is critical for future energy conversion and storage technologies. We demonstrate that inducing a lattice strain in IrO₂ crystal structure due to interface lattice mismatch enables an enhancement of the OER catalytic activity. The lattice strain is obtained by the direct growth of IrO₂ nanoparticles on a specially exposed surface of α-MnO₂ nanorods via a simple two-step hydrothermal synthesis. Interestingly, the prepared hydride OER activity increases with a lower IrO₂ grown mass, which offers an opportunity to reduce the usage of precious iridium and ultimately obtains a specific mass activity of 3.7 times than that of IrO₂ prepared under the same conditions and exhibits equivalent stability. The lattice mismatch in the underlying interface induces the formation of lattice strain in IrO₂ rather than the charge transfer between the materials. The lattice strain changes are in good agreement with the order of the OER activity. Our experimental results indicate that using the special exposed surface substrates or tuning the supporting morphology structure can manipulate the catalyst materials lattice strain for the design of more efficient OER catalysts.

Synthetic Organic Electrochemical Methods Since 2000: On the Verge of a Renaissance

Electrochemistry represents one of the most intimate ways of interacting with molecules. This review discusses advances in synthetic organic electrochemistry since 2000. Enabling methods and synthetic applications are analyzed alongside innate advantages as well as future challenges of electroorganic chemistry.

Nanocomposite Based on Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles and Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) Membranes: Synthesis and Characterization

Gold nanoparticles, capped by 3-mercapto propane sulfonate (Au-3MPS), were synthesized inside a swollen sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane (sPEEK). The formation of the Au-3MPS nanoparticles in the swollen sPEEK membrane was observed by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The nanocomposite containing the gold nanoparticles grown in the sPEEK membrane, showed the plasmon resonance λ_max at about 520 nm, which remained stable over a testing period of three months. The size distribution of the nanoparticles was assessed, and the sPEEK membrane roughness, both before and after the synthesis of nanoparticles, was studied by AFM. The XPS measurements confirm Au-3MPS formation in the sPEEK membrane. Moreover, AFM experiments recorded in fluid allowed the production of images of the Au-3MPS@sPEEK composite in water at different pH levels, achieving a better understanding of the membrane behavior in a water environment; the dynamic hydration process of the Au-3MPS@sPEEK membrane was investigated. These preliminary results suggest that the newly developed nanocomposite membranes could be promising materials for fuel cell applications.