Enhancing Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis with a Checkered Carbon Matrix Containing Ir‐Ru Nanoparticles

Abstract

AbstractProton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) emerges as a promising avenue for storing excess renewable energy by generating H2 gas without introducing additional carbon emissions. However, PEMWE systems still grapple with challenges related to energy efficiency, cell longevity, and maximum operational current density. Consequently, extensive research efforts have been directed toward enhancing the performance of electrocatalysts and refining system designs to overcome these limitations. Within this framework, this study introduces a novel synthetic approach for fabricating N‐doped carbon matrices with a checkered pattern on the surface of porous transport layers (PTLs) composed of titanium (Ti). The resulting N‐doped checkered carbon matrices serve as robust hosts for Ir‐Ru nanoparticles during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), ensuring their stable integration. Additionally, the checkered pattern of the N‐doped carbon matrices facilitates the efficient transport of both electrolyte and produced O2 gas. Capitalizing on these advantages, the incorporation of checkered carbon matrices with Ir‐Ru nanoparticles has achieved a cell current density of 6.82 A cm−2 at a unit cell voltage of 2.0 V. The benefits of this structural innovation extend beyond water electrolysis and can be extrapolated to other electrochemical systems involving the production and transport of gas bubbles, such as CO2 reduction.