A novel IrO2 electrode with iridium-titanium oxide interlayers from a mixture of TiN nanoparticle and H2IrCl6 solution

A novel IrO2 anode on titanium substrate with iridium-titanium oxide interlayer (Ti/IrOx-TiO2/IrO2) was prepared and investigated for oxygen evolution. IrOx-TiO2 interlayer was coated on titanium substrate by impregnation-thermal decomposition method from a mixture of TiN nanoparticles and H2IrCl6 solution at 500 degrees C. The results showed that the service life of Ti/IrOx-TiO2/IrO2 was a factor of six times longer than that of Ti/IrO2, which was attributed to the IrOx-TiO2 interlayer, it could form a metastable solid solution between IrOx and thin titanium oxide layer on titanium substrate during calcination. The interlayer contributed to the decrease in migration rate of oxygen atom or molecule toward substrate and the increase in bonding force among IrO2 layer, interlayer, and substrate. Therefore, besides keeping high electrocatalytic activity, the service life of Ti/IrOx-TiO2/IrO2 electrode was greatly improved, and its overall electrocatalytic performance for oxygen evolution was increased as well.