Modified electrolytic manganese dioxide (MEMD) for oxygen generation in alkaline medium

Undoubtedly, hydrogen will play an important role in the energy sector in the near future, in particular, as a fuel for transportation. However, electrolytic hydrogen generation is energy intensive and the means to save energy have been widely studied, as for example, the use of proton exchange membranes to minimize the voltage drop across the electrolyte. This research focuses in developing inexpensive alternative anode materials for oxygen generation in order to substitute expensive conventional anodes such as dimensionally stable anodes (DSAA (R)). The geometric and electronic factors of the starting 'electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) material' are modified to enhance its electrochemical activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction. This has been achieved while using different dopants as additives during electrodeposition of MnO2. The linear voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis showed an increase in the surface area for the modified EMD (MEMD). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) associated with elemental analysis (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)) illustrate a change in the oxygen composition and acidity which is correlated to the changes in electronic factor of the EMD. These results elucidate the improvement in overpotential observed for MEMDs when compared to that of DSAA (R) at the current density of 100 mA cm(-2).