GOALI / SusChEM: Structure-property relationships in metal-hydroxide oxygen-evolution electrocatalysts for alkaline-membrane-based water electrolysis

有了这个赠款机会与工业学术联盟（GOALI）奖共同资助的化学催化计划的化学司和多学科活动的办公室，来自俄勒冈州大学的Shannon Boettcher教授将（1）研究三维（3D）结构和局部组成控制氢氧化镍基电催化剂中析氧反应（OER）活性的机制，以及（2）确定在实际电流密度下操作的原型碱膜电解系统中影响优化的氢氧化镍OER催化剂的性能和耐久性的关键因素。这项工作将与Proton OnSite（Wallingford，CT）的Kathy Ayers博士合作进行。对Ni基OER催化剂的关注是由Boettcher实验室最近的工作激发的，该工作表明具有3D层状结构的Ni-Fe氢氧化物薄膜具有比其他已知的碱性OER催化剂（包括IrO 2）更高的每原子活性。该小组还将在休假期间与当地中学生开展外展活动。中学生们将在俄勒冈州大学校园内参与动手储能和可持续性设计挑战活动。开发清洁和可持续能源对人类文明的经济和环境活力至关重要。太阳能和风能等可再生能源是间歇性的，因此目前难以大量整合传统能源，而且成本高昂。储存间歇性可再生能源的一种有前途的方法是将水分解为氢气和氧气。氢气可用作可持续的无碳可再生燃料，以取代化石燃料。这项研究解决了设计水分解系统的一个重要挑战-反应中氧气生产部分的效率低下。

With this Grant Opportunities for Academic Liasons with Industry (GOALI) Award co-funded by the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Division of Chemistry and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities, Professor Shannon Boettcher from the University of Oregon will (1) study the mechanisms by which three-dimensional (3D) structure and local composition control the oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) activity in Ni hydroxide-based electrocatalysts and (2) identify the key factors affecting performance and durability of optimized Ni hydroxide OER catalysts in prototype alkaline-membrane electrolysis systems operating at practical current densities. The work will be carried out in collaboration with Dr. Kathy Ayers at Proton OnSite (Wallingford, CT). The focus on Ni-based OER catalysts is motivated by recent work in the Boettcher laboratory demonstrating that thin films of Ni-Fe hydroxides with 3D layered structures have higher per-atom activities than other known alkaline OER catalysts including IrO2. The team will also conduct outreach activities with local middle school students during furlough days. The middle school students will engage in hands-on energy storage and sustainability design-challenge activities on the University of Oregon campus. The development of clean and sustainable energy sources is critical for both the economic and environmental vitality of human civilization. Renewable energy sources such as the sun and wind are intermittent and thus currently difficult and expensive to integrate with traditional energy sources in large amounts. One promising method to store intermittent renewable energy is by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The hydrogen gas can be used as a sustainable carbon-free renewable fuel to replace fossil fuels. This research addresses an important challenge in designing water-splitting systems - the inefficiency of the oxygen production part of the reaction.