The Discrepancy in Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalyst Lifetime Explained: RDE vs MEA - Dynamicity within the Catalyst Layer Matters

This study reveals the source of discrepancy between lifetime oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts determined by rotating disk electrode (RDE) measurements vs that obtained in a membrane assembly (MEA) an electrolyzer. We show accumulation microscopic bubbles pores electro-catalyst layer during OER takes place both RDE and MEA measurements. However, this was found to be much more significant measurements, where shielding almost all catalyst active sites gas leads rapid performance deterioration. decrease performance, albeit largely reversible, also induce irreversible degradation, which could avoided if is prevented. type artefact results vastly under-estimated lifetimes experiments, resulting values are orders magnitude shorter than those using hypothesis for will proposed. Therefore, electrochemical cells with liquid electrolytes not reliable determination. paper 236 presented at Atlanta, Georgia, Meeting Society, October 13–17, 2019.