Preparation and characterization of Ir x Pt 1Lx O 2 anode electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction Kalliopi M. Papazisi a,b , Angeliki Siokou c , Stella Balomenou a , Dimitrios Tsiplakides a,d, * a Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute, Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas, 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Rd, GR-57001 Thessaloniki, Greece b Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece c Institute of Chemical Engineering and High Temperature Chemical Processes, Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas, Platani GR-26504, Patras, Greece d Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece article info Article history: Received 30 November 2011 Received in revised form 17 February 2012 Accepted 20 February 2012 Available online 17 March 2012 Keywords: Ir x Pt 1x O 2 Oxygen evolution reaction Water electrolysis PEM abstract Towards competent production of clean and electrolytic hydrogen, proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis offers several advantages, such as high purity of the produced gases, very high level of operation safety and direct storage of gases under high pressure. The work presented deals with the development of efficient PEM water electro- lyzers, employing high specific surface area Ir x Pt 1x O 2 electrocatalysts synthesized by the modified Adams fusion method. A typical three-electrode cell was used to evaluate the performance of the materials for water splitting. The performance of electrodes for oxygen evolution reaction was assessed by steady-state currentepotential measurements while their electrochemical characteristics and stability were studied by cyclic voltammetry. It was found that IrePt bimetallic oxide electrodes present a stable performance for oxygen evolution reaction. Their intrinsic electrocatalytic activity in combination with their large surface area and stability are quite promising for the development of economically feasible electrocatalysts for PEM water electrolyzers. Copyright ª 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The need for new, environmental friendly and renewable energy sources has led to increased pressure for replacement of fossil fuels and the establishment of hydrogen as energy carrier [1]. The hydrogen economy comprises the production of hydrogen, its transport and storage and finally the end use in fuel cells. The production of hydrogen can be realized through the reforming of natural gas and the conversion of coal in a midterm basis, or with the use of sustainable sources (such as wind, solar energy and biomass) and the use of nuclear energy, in the longer run. In the case where the excess power generated by natural energy sources (wind, solar) or nuclear plants needs to be stored, water electrolysis for the production of hydrogen as energy carrier is expected to play a key role. Direct electrochemical splitting of water is a non- polluting way of producing pure hydrogen and oxygen, and it has been used for decades, primarily to meet the needs of the chemical industry. Recently, proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis systems have attracted great interest as * Corresponding author. Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece. Tel.: þ30 2310997766; fax: þ30 2310997709. E-mail address: dtsiplak@chem.auth.gr (D. Tsiplakides). Available online at www.sciencedirect.com journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/he international journal of hydrogen energy 37 (2012) 16642 e16648 0360-3199/$ e see front matter Copyright ª 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.02.118