Mechanistic insights into the water splitting reaction on industrial Ni-based anodes.

With this experiment, we plan to get mechanistic insights into the oxygen evolution reaction on Ni-based electrocatalysts for the water splitting reaction. We plan to perform operando XAS measurements at the Ni and Fe K-edges, on Ni and Ni/Fe-based catalysts that have been prepared and fully characterized by electrochemical methods at the DeNora laboratories. The measurement will be carried out in fluorescence mode, on powder samples deposited onto conductive glassy carbon electrodes, in a custom designed spectro-electrochemical cell, and in industrial-like conditions. We plan to detect the oxidation states of Ni and Fe, and possible variations thereof during the course of the reaction. This mechanistic data will be a key information for the development of tailored materials for the industrial production of green hydrogen.