Investigation of stability and degradation phenomena in model M@C / PANI nanocomposite electrodes with 2D and 3D architecture

以化学形式（燃料）储存（可再生）电力及其随后的释放发生在电化学设备中，如电解槽和燃料电池。这些装置的经济上可行的开发需要电极材料和结构，不仅是性能，而且是耐用的。然而，迄今为止使用的电催化剂材料易于腐蚀，并且影响其在作为复杂多相实体的真实的电极中的稳定性的因素并不很清楚。该项目通过为这些复杂材料提出一个定义明确的模型系统来解决这一问题，其中可以系统地研究各种因素对电极稳定性的影响。我们的制备结合了一个“阳极”的大孔模板，它定义了一个三维的几何形状，聚苯胺（PANI）作为导电基质，和激光沉积的金属纳米粒子嵌入在氢化碳相（M@C）作为催化剂。我们将量化这些电极在连续电解时的性能和稳定性，并比较在以下方面不同的类似电极：（1）模板和聚苯胺基质之间的相互作用的性质;（2）PANI和氢化碳相之间的相互作用的性质;（3）电极的结构（在3D模板上获得的平面膜或管）;（4）电极的几何形状（管的长度和直径）。比较的结果将使我们能够确定最有前途的策略，以改善真实的电极的稳定性，而不牺牲性能。俄罗斯和德国团队分别在金属/碳复合材料的激光诱导沉积和电化学工作（包括阳极氧化）方面的专业知识相结合，使这一雄心勃勃的目标成为可能。

The storage of (renewable) electricity in chemical form (fuels) and its subsequent release occur in electrochemical devices such as electrolyzers and fuel cells. An economically viable exploitation of these devices requires electrode materials and architectures that are not only performant but also durable. However, electrocatalyst materials used to date are prone to corrosion and the factors affecting their stability in real electrode, which are complex multiphase entities, are not well understood. The project addresses this aspect by proposing a well-defined model system for these complex materials, one in which the effects of various factors on electrode stability can be investigated systematically. Our preparation combines an ‘anodic’ macroporous template which defines a three-dimensional geometry, polyaniline (PANI) as conductive matrix, and laser-deposited metal nanoparticles embedded in hydrogenated carbon phase (M@C) as the catalyst. We will quantify the performance and stability of these electrodes upon continuous electrolysis and compare similar electrodes differing in (1) nature of interaction between templates and polyaniline matrix; (2) nature of interaction between PANI and hydrogenated carbon phase; (3) architecture of electrode (planar films or tubes obtained on 3D template); (4) geometry of electrode (length and diameter of the tubes). The results of the comparisons will allow us to identify the most promising strategies for improving the stability of real electrodes without sacrificing performance. This ambitious goal is rendered possible by the combination of expertise from the Russian and German teams in the laser-induced deposition of metal/carbon composites and in electrochemical work (including anodization), respectively.