Studies on polymer modified metal oxide anode for oxygen evolution reaction in saline water

Since most of the water source on the earth surface is saline in nature, hydrogen generation from saline water is of great importance. In this paper, we have developed a membrane protected anode, using anionic backbone of sulfonated polystyrene-block-(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene polymer (S-PSEBS) over the anode (IrO2/Ti) which is capable of electrostatically repelling the chloride ions (Cl-) from the electrode surface and thereby enhancing the oxygen evolution rather than the chlorine evolution. The electrochemical behavior of both polymer modified and bare IrO2/Ti electrodes were characterized by electrochemical polarization studies and the gas evolution efficiencies were calculated. The surface morphology of the electrodes was investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results suggest that nearly 95% oxygen evolution efficiency could be achieved when the surface of IrO2/Ti electrode was modified with a permselective membrane. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.