Cerium Metal Oxide OER Catalyst Acidic Tolerance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) are inefficient at low overpotentials, do not tolerate acidic conditions, and often use expensive components like iridium and ruthenium, limiting their application in solar fuels generation and electrowinning.
Innovation Solution
A metal oxide catalyst comprising oxygen, cerium, and one or more second metals, such as transition metals or lanthanides, which provides a high Tafel slope and is tolerant of acidic environments, reducing the need for expensive components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current electrocatalysts are used for OER, then the reaction can proceed, but the efficiency at low overpotentials is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the catalyst by incorporating cerium in specific molar ratios (10-80%) combined with transition metals, post-transition metals, or lanthanides. This compositional parameter change enables the catalyst to achieve high OER efficiency at low overpotentials, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and power requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite metal oxide materials combining cerium with other metals (transition metals, post-transition metals, or lanthanides) in specific ratios. This composite approach creates synergistic effects that enhance catalytic activity at low overpotentials, solving the contradiction between OER efficiency and power consumption
2Reliability
If current electrocatalysts are used, then OER can be catalyzed, but they do not tolerate acidic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical stability parameters of the catalyst by selecting specific metal combinations (cerium with transition metals, post-transition metals, or lanthanides) that inherently possess acid tolerance. This parameter change enables the catalyst to maintain reliability in acidic environments while expanding environmental adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive noble metals (iridium, ruthenium) with more stable and acid-tolerant metal oxide compositions. This substitution not only reduces cost but also improves acidic condition tolerance, resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental adaptability
3Productivity
If expensive noble metals like iridium and ruthenium are used, then high catalytic activity is achieved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directly applies this principle by replacing expensive noble metals (iridium, ruthenium) with cheaper metal oxide compositions containing cerium combined with transition metals, post-transition metals, or lanthanides. This substitution maintains high catalytic activity while dramatically reducing the quantity and cost of noble metals required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameters from noble metal-based to cerium-based metal oxides with specific molar ratios. This parameter change achieves the dual goal of maintaining high catalytic activity (productivity) while eliminating dependence on expensive noble metals (quantity of substance/cost)
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The catalyst achieves higher catalytic currents at lower overpotentials and is effective in acidic conditions, enhancing the efficiency of OER in applications like solar fuels generation and electrowinning without using expensive noble metals.
Implementation Method 1
A variety of different applications make use of the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER)... the overpotential that can be applied to the electrodes where the oxygen evolution reaction occurs
Implementation Method 2
it is desirable to have a catalyst that is effective at low overpotentials... The disclosure provides an Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) catalyst that comprises a metal oxide that includes oxygen, cerium, and one or more second metals
Data Source
AI summary
An Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) catalyst includes a metal oxide that includes oxygen, cerium, and one or more second metals. In some instances, the cerium is 10 to 80 molar % of the metals in the metal oxide and/or the catalyst includes two or more second metals. The OER catalyst can be included in or on an electrode. The electrode can be arranged in an oxygen evolution system such that the Oxygen Evolution Reaction occurs at the electrode.