New ZBT publication: More stable MnO₂ anodes for PEM water electrolysis

X-ray diffraction at the ZBT provided a key basis for understanding the new catalyst. The ZBT-XRD was used to investigate how the incorporation of niobium and fluorine affects the crystal structure, phase composition and lattice parameters of the MnO₂.

The measurements show that the characteristic γ/β MnO₂ structure is retained even after Co doping. At the same time, shifts, broadening and reduced intensities of individual diffraction peaks indicate lattice expansion, local stresses and increased structural disorder. It is also crucial that no additional crystalline Nb-containing secondary phases were detected. The XRD results thus provide important structural evidence that the doping does indeed interact with the MnO₂ system without disrupting its fundamental crystal structure. Together with electron microscopy, XPS and operando XAS, this provides a detailed picture of how Nb and F alter the electronic and structural properties of the catalyst.

The publication illustrates what research at the ZBT is all about: developing materials, understanding their structure and function, evaluating them electrochemically and testing them under realistic conditions in the electrolyser.

We congratulate Vimanshu Chanda, Viktor Mackert, Pascal Sous, Markus Sonnenberg, Hesham Solh, Sebastian Daniel Hirt, Harry Ernst Hoster and Natalia Levin, as well as all the other researchers involved, on this outstanding collaborative work.

The article „Cation-Anion Co-Doping Enables Acid-Stable MnO₂ Anodes for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis“ has been published in the journal Small Science by Wiley-VCH and Open Access is now available. A fantastic achievement for the entire research team and a prime example of the scientific work carried out at the ZBT.