Work

Electropolymerized PAA as a Functional Matrix for CeO2-NiO Hybrid Electrocatalysts for Efficient Water Oxidation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Electrochemical water splitting has emerged as a pivotal strategy for advancing sustainable and renewable energy technologies. However, its practical deployment is often hampered by sluggish reaction kinetics, large overpotentials, and the high cost of efficient electrocatalysts. To overcome these critical challenges, a novel bifunctional electrocatalyst based on electropolymerized CeO2-NiO with polyacrylic acid (Ce-Ni-PAA) has been rationally engineered for overall water splitting. The strategic incorporation of conductive polymer framework enables effective modulation of the local electronic structure, enhances charge transport pathways, and maximizes the density of electrochemically accessible active sites, thereby substantially boosting catalytic performance. When evaluated in a 1 M KOH alkaline medium, the optimized Ce-Ni-PAA0.5/NF hybrid demonstrates remarkable catalytic activity with 366.5 mV overpotential at 50 mA cm−2, coupled with lower Tafel slope of 93.5 mV dec−1. Additionally, the Ce-Ni-PAA0.5/NF electrocatalyst exhibits exceptional ECSA of 1092.3 cm2, which confirms the presence of a significantly larger number of electrochemically active sites. The electrocatalyst retains its performance even after 5000 continuous cycles of operation. The superior performance is attributed to the synergistic effects arising from the enriched composition, efficient electron transport channels, and abundant catalytic centers. Collectively, this study not only highlights the significance of rational structural and compositional design but also offers valuable insights toward the development of next-generation, cost-effective bifunctional electrocatalysts with strong potential for scalable water splitting and clean energy applications.

Source: Polymers

DOI: 10.3390/polym17192631

Authors: Mrunal Bhosale, Pritam J. Morankar, Yeonsu Lee, Hajin Seo, Chan-Wook Jeon

Institution: Yeungnam University

Language: English

Topic: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258