Dual-interface stabilization of low-iridium anodes for durable proton exchange membrane water electrolysis.

Authors

Eui Tae Kim, Sangwoo Kim, Sung-Eun Park, Pumsuk Park, Eunbyeol Ko, Jemee Joe, Ho Yeon Son, Juyeon Kang, Julie Junesoo Kim, Kibeom Cheon, Kyungin Kim, Soree Kim, Geunsung Lee, Jaehak Jeong, Manki Cho, Noma Kim, Jai Hyun Koh, Kihwan Kim

Published in

Nature communications. Jul 04, 2026. Epub Jul 04, 2026.

Abstract

The durability and cost of iridium-based anodes remain key challenges for high-current density operation of proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. Here, we report a dual-interface stabilization strategy based on atomic layer deposition of TiO₂ onto IrO₂ catalysts. The resulting anodes sustain operation at 3.0 A cm^-2 for 2600 h with near-zero voltage degradation at an iridium loading of 0.4 mg cm^-2, whereas bare IrO₂ exhibits continuous voltage decay over 1000 h at a rate of 31.5 mV kh^-1. Combined experimental characterization and theoretical calculations reveal that interfacial Ti-O-Ir coupling suppresses Ir over-oxidation and dissolution, while the TiO₂-coated surface strengthens ionomer-catalyst interactions and preserves mass-transport pathways during prolonged operation. This strategy is fully compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing, enabling industrially scalable implementation. This interfacial engineering approach offers a generalizable design principle for extending electrolyzer lifetime and reducing precious-metal loading across diverse electrochemical energy conversion technologies.

PMID:
42401560
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 05 Jul 2026.

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