Investigation of Ir and Ag doped Ni and Co selenides as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution/reduction and hydrogen evolution/oxidation reactions in alkaline media

• Grant number: 21/01869-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Edson Antonio Ticianelli
• Grantee: Pâmella Silva Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/22183-6 - Electrocatalysis VI: fundamental and applied aspects of emerging and classical problems in electrochemical energy conversion, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/13095-1 - Investigating activity and stability of iridium oxide-doped nickel selenide catalysts for alkaline water electrolysis, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

In this work, Ir- or Ag-doped Ni and Co selenides electrocatalysts will be prepared by various methods and then investigated for their catalytic activity for the reactions involved in the water electrolysis and fuel cells in alkaline medium, namely the oxygen evolution/reduction and the hydrogen evolution/oxidation reactions. Different proportions of selenides in relation to Ir or Ag will be used, as well as different pHs will be considered in these investigations. The materials will be prepared by electrodeposition, or by colloidal/hydrothermal methods and also a microwave-based method for the formation of selenides and the incorporation/doping with the Ir or Ag metals, with the goal of producing nanometer sized catalyst particles. The materials will be characterized by several techniques, such as, X-ray diffractometry, transmission and high-resolution electron microscopy, coupled to elementary mapping by X-ray dispersive energy spectroscopy, in situ Raman spectroscopy, etc. Cyclic voltammetry and steady-state polarization measurements conducted using the rotating disk electrodes will be used to obtain the electrochemical characteristics of the surface of the catalysts and evaluate the kinetics of the different reactions under investigation. (AU)