Mixed-metal-oxide electrodes for hydrogen production by water electrolysis and for electrical charge storage in supercapacitors

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Hydrogen has been identified as the ‘fuel vector’ of the future, as it is perfectly environmentally-friendly, renewable, abundant and has high mass-based energy density. It has increasingly been considered as the best alternative to fossil fuels, and is ultimately expected to provide the solution to transport requirements and large-scale storage of energy. The corresponding technologies have already started emerging even in the consumer sector; Toyota and Honda are introducing hydrogen fuel cell powered cars, hydrogen re-fueling stations have rapidly been built in the USA, Europe and Japan. Hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis of water, which provides a completely clean route to the hydrogen economy without the consumption of fossil fuels or the emission of carbon dioxide, especially if supported by solar-, wind-, or hydro-produced electricity. However, in order to make this technology more cost-competitive, more electroactive, durable and cheaper electrode materials are needed. Further, for applications where a sudden burst of electrical energy is needed (electric and fuel-cell cars, electronic equipment, airplane emergency slides, etc.), electrochemical supercapacitors are best suited. In order to increase the power and energy density of present supercapacitors, better electrode materials are also needed.