Iridium and Ruthenium Electrodeposition at Platinum Nanopowder Using the Rotating Disc Slurry Electrode Technique

An (IrRu)/Pt black catalyst was prepared by the Rotating Disc Slurry Electrode technique from the chlorinated precursors at an applied potential of -0.2V vs. Ag vertical bar AgCl. XPS and EDS mapping reveal the presence of Ir and Ru on the finished material, while TEM, SEM and XRD suggest that no changes in morphology occurred. A blank sample under the same conditions was prepared without a fixed potential and spontaneously deposited ruthenium was detected in XPS and mappings. Finally, (IrRu)/Pt black was subjected to thermal treatment at 400 degrees C and the prepared catalysts were painted onto carbon paper and used for potentiodynamic scans to test for their activity for the oxygen evolution reaction. When compared to as-received Pt black our (IrRu)/Pt black performed better due to the Ir and Ru modification and a loss in performance was apparent after the heat treatment, this can be a result of the loss of active sites.