Fabrication of Well-dispersed IrO2 Anchored on rGO Composite for High-performance OER Electrocatalyst Application by Microwave-Assisted Method

Efficient and cost-effective electrolysis technique is prerequisite for industrial scale hydrogen production. This study demonstrates fabrication of electrochemical catalyst in the form of a composite structure generated through rapid oxidation using microwave (MW) of self-assembled IrO₂ nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (rGO). MW-IrO₂/rGO catalysts were synthesized using the microwave-assisted aqueous solution method, and its physical/chemical structure, morphology, and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) properties were evaluated depending on the power of microwave. The composite structure with rGO support and small particle size of IrO₂ allow homogeneous dispersion, and large adsorption area, which dramatically enhances the electron and proton transports. The increased electrochemical surface area resulted in excellent performance of OER. Moreover, this study suggests a simple catalyst preparation method, leading to acceleration of manufacturing speed and cost saving. Thus, this work provides new insights into a facile microwave-assisted rapid oxidation method for efficient electrochemical applications such as PEM electrolysis cells.

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