New materials for eco-sustainable electrochemical processes: oxygen evolution reaction at different electrode materials

In this thesis, the issue concerns the study of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at different electrode materials. The idea to carry out such research is connected with the key role, which OER plays in several electrochemical processes. In a future energy scenario based on renewable energy hydrogen is an attractive energy carrier. Among the others, hydrogen production by water electrolysis is a clean and simple way of storing energy from sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power the hydrogen can then subsequently be utilized in fuel cells without concern of contaminants. In this contest water electrolysis acquires a particular strategic role. OER is very often the most difficult of the two electrolytic reaction and it is the most important side reaction of many other electrochemical applications. In this work the performances of both “active” and “non active” electrodes have been evaluated. The attention had been firstly paid on the spinel-type Co3O4 electrodes obtained by a sol-gel method to obtain specific information about mechanism and kinetics of the OER. Moreover, the behaviour of SnO2-RuO2 electrodes, mechanically processed for different times, was investigated in acid media during oxidattive runs. Finally the attention has been focused on the evolution of electronic structure and electrochemical acitivity of BDD samples during oxidative ageing tests.