Probing the stability of SrIrO3 during active water electrolysis via operando atomic force microscopy

Mechanistic studies of oxide electrocatalysts for heterogeneous water oxidation have been primarily focused on understanding the origins of activity, with fewer studies addressing fundamental properties that influence stability. The main challenge is directly observing and quantifying local structural instability under operating conditions. In this work, we provide a dynamic view of the perovskite stability as a function of time and operational voltage using operando electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM). Specifically, we study the degradation pathways of SrIrO3, a highly active electrocatalyst, during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) by tracking the potential-dependent Sr leaching and perovskite dissolution at the nanometer scale. This material serves as a model system for degradation studies of perovskite AMO(3) oxides, exhibiting both A-cation leaching and transition metal (M) dissolution. We show that Sr leaching precedes perovskite dissolution by up to 0.8 V, leading to a wide voltage window of stability where water oxidation occurs on a Sr-depleted surface without significant corrosion. Moreover, we reveal that the stability of the perovskite surface is strongly influenced by the electrolytic environment and that corrosion rates differ dramatically as a function of dissolved Sr concentration. Ultimately, our study demonstrates that the overall stability of perovskite oxides during electrocatalysis can be substantially improved by suppressing A-site leaching.

Automated summary

Mechanistic studies have primarily focused on activity origins of oxide electrocatalysts for water oxidation, with limited attention to fundamental properties related to stability. This work presents a dynamic view of perovskite stability through operando electrochemical atomic force microscopy, tracking Sr leaching and perovskite dissolution during the oxygen evolution reaction. The study reveals that Sr leaching occurs before perovskite dissolution, leading to a wide voltage window of stability for water oxidation. The stability of the perovskite surface is strongly influenced by the electrolytic environment and the corrosion rates vary with dissolved Sr concentration. Ultimately, the overall stability of perovskite oxides during electrocatalysis can be greatly improved by suppressing A-site leaching.