Operando HE-XRD Investigations on the Structural Adaptations of Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts in Membrane-Electrode-Assembly Devices for

Electrochemical water splitting and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) present a cornerstone for the on-going sustainable development strategies focused on de-fossilization of the industrial and transport sectors through the production of green H2. However, substantial discrepancies between aqueous model and applied electrolyzer studies in terms of operating conditions, electrode architecture and reactant/product transport mechanisms impede the knowledge transfer between fundamental and applied research. We aim to breach this divide through operando high-energy X-ray diffraction (HE-XRD) studies on an electrolyzer level. Our operando experimental approach will contribute to the understanding of decisive interfacial properties to develop mitigating operational strategies for meliorating electrolyzer performance and design novel OER catalysts with improved electrocatalytic activity and stability.