Water oxidation catalyst including lithium cobalt germanate

The invention relates to catalysts for electrochemical water oxidation and oxygen evolution.

Hydrogen has long been considered an ideal fuel source, as it offers a clean, non-polluting alternative to fossil fuels. One source of hydrogen is the splitting of water into hydrogen (H 2 ) and oxygen (O 2 ), as depicted in equation (1).

2H 2 O→O 2 +2H 2   (1)

In an electrochemical half-cell, the water-splitting reaction comprises two half-reactions:

2H 2 O→O 2 +4H + +4 e −   (2)

2H + +2 e − →H 2   (3)

and hydrogen made from water using sunlight prospectively offers an abundant, renewable, clean energy source. While the reduction of protons to form hydrogen is a relatively easy and efficient reaction, the oxygen evolution reaction requires a much higher driving force to overcome the activation energy barriers associated with the reaction as the reaction includes multiple proton coupled electron transfer processes. As such, efforts have been made to search for efficient water oxidation and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts that can produce oxygen and hydrogen ions from water. In particular, oxides of ruthenium and iridium have previously been identified. However, as they are among the rarest elements on earth, it is not practical to use these catalysts on a large scale. There is therefore a need for improved water oxidation and OER catalysts.

In one aspect there is disclosed a water oxidation catalyst that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen ions that includes lithium cobalt germinate.

In another aspect, there is disclosed an oxygen evolution catalyst that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen ions that includes lithium cobalt germinate.

In a further aspect there is disclosed an electrode for electrochemical water oxidation splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen ions that includes a substrate and an active material in contact with the substrate. The active material includes lithium cobalt germinate.

In another aspect there is disclosed a process for oxidizing water that includes the steps of: providing an electrode including lithium cobalt germanate; providing water and a supporting electrolyte; and placing the water and supporting electrolyte into contact with the lithium cobalt germinate with an applied oxidative over-potential catalyzing the oxidation of water into oxygen and hydrogen ions.

In a further aspect there is disclosed a process of forming a water oxidation catalyst including the steps of: providing LiOH; providing GeO 2 ; combining the LiOH and GeO 2 forming a first solution; providing CoCl 2 in a solvent; combining the first solution and CoCl 2 in solvent forming a second solution; exposing the second solution to a hydrothermal reaction forming Li 2 CoGeO 4 .

FIG. 1 is a graphic depiction of a thermal bomb reactor utilized in the synthesis of Li 2 CoGeO 4 ;

FIG. 2 is a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of crystalline Li 2 CoGeO 4 nanoparticles;

FIG. 3 is an x-ray diffraction plot of Li 2 CoGeO 4 ;

FIG. 4 is an EDX plot of Li 2 CoGeO 4 ;

FIG. 5 is chart detailing the ICP data for Li 2 CoGeO 4 ;

FIG. 6 is a graphic depiction of an electrochemical testing apparatus for testing Li 2 CoGeO 4 ;

FIG. 7 is a plot of the electrochemical performance including the over potential versus the current density for Li 2 CoGeO 4 , CoWO 4 , and IrO 2 .

The present disclosure provides a method or process, apparatus and/or composition for catalyzing the oxidation of water to generate hydrogen ions and oxygen.

A “catalyst” as used herein, means a material that is involved in and increases the rate of a chemical electrolysis reaction (or other electrochemical reaction) and which itself, undergoes reaction as part of the electrolysis, but is largely unconsumed by the reaction itself, and may participate in multiple chemical transformations. A catalytic material of the invention may be consumed in slight quantities during some uses and may be, in many embodiments, regenerated to its original chemical state. The reaction may include a water oxidation or oxygen evolution reaction.

In one aspect a water oxidation catalyst or an oxygen evolution catalyst includes lithium cobalt germanate that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen ions.

In a further aspect there is disclosed an electrode for electrochemical water oxidation splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen ions that includes a substrate and an active material in contact with the substrate. The active material includes lithium cobalt germinate.

The catalyst can include a plurality of lithium cobalt germanate nanoparticles. In some instances, the nanoparticles are uniform in size and can have an average particle size of less than 1 micron. In another aspect, the nanoparticles may have a size of 500 nanometers or less.

In one aspect, the lithium cobalt germinate may be combined with conductive particles such as carbon black and may also include a binder such as NAFION®, a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer copolymer sold by DuPont. The combined material may be attached to an electrode substrate using any method known to those in the art. Various electrode substrates may be utilized that are capable of conducting current such as for example, glassy carbon.

The electrode may be a part of an electrochemical cell that is utilized to split water into oxygen and hydrogen ions. Various electrochemical cells may be utilized included photovoltaic cells and cells that have an externally applied potential. The electrochemical cell may include a container such as a receptacle, carton, can or jar, in which components of an electrochemical device may be held or carried. A container may be fabricated using any known techniques or materials, as will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The container may have any shape or size, providing it can contain the components of the electrochemical device. Components of the electrochemical device may be mounted in the container. That is, a component, for example, an electrode, may be associated with the container such that it is immobilized with respect to the container, and in some cases, supported by the container.

In one aspect, an electrochemical cell containing an embodiment of the present invention offers a highly efficient method of splitting water using solar illumination, without the need for an applied potential. Upon oxidation of water at a photo-anode, oxygen is released and hydrogen protons are generated which may then be reduced to form hydrogen gas at a counter electrode.

Alternatively, the electrochemical cell may include an external source providing an over potential to the cell. Various electrolytes may be utilized in the electrochemical cell that are compatible with the lithium cobalt germinate material. One example of a supporting electrolyte includes NaH 2 PO 4 Na 2 SO 4 .

In another aspect there is disclosed a process for oxidizing water that includes the steps of: providing an electrode including lithium cobalt germanate; providing water and a supporting electrolyte; and placing the water and supporting electrolyte into contact with the lithium cobalt germinate with an applied oxidative over-potential catalyzing the oxidation of water into oxygen and hydrogen ions.

In a further aspect there is disclosed a process of forming a water oxidation catalyst including the steps of: providing LiOH; providing GeO 2 ; combining the LiOH and GeO 2 forming a first solution; providing CoCl 2 in a solvent; combining the first solution and CoCl 2 in solvent forming a second solution; exposing the second solution to a hydrothermal reaction forming Li 2 CoGeO 4 .

Various solvents may be utilized such as for example ethylene glycol. The process may include placing the second solution in a hydrothermal bomb at a temperature of 150 degrees centigrade for 72 hours. The process may also include the step of washing and drying the Li 2 CoGeO 4 following the hydrothermal reaction. The process may further include the step of grinding the Li 2 CoGeO 4 following the drying step separating the Li 2 CoGeO 4 into particles. The process provides a mechanism to form the catalytic material without complicated manufacturing steps and may be scaled to produce various quantities of materials.

The invention is further described by the following examples, which are illustrative of specific modes of practicing the invention and are not intended as limiting the scope of the invention defined in the claims.

Preparation of Li 2 CoGeO 4

Li 2 CoGeO 4 was synthesized by dissolving 0.05 mol of LiOH and 0.0125 mol of GeO 2 into 20 mL of water. Then in a separate container 0.0125 mol CoCl 2 was dissolved into 10 mL of ethylene glycol. The two solutions were then mixed in a Teflon cup together and placed in a hydrothermal bomb apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 . The apparatus was subjected to a temperature of 150 C for 72 hrs. After 72 hrs, the bomb was removed from the heat source and the solids were filtered/washed with water and then dried in a vacuum oven overnight. After drying the powder was ground with a mortar and pestle to separate the solid particles.

The final powder was examined by SEM ( FIG. 2 ), x-ray diffraction ( FIG. 3 ) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis ( FIG. 4 ). The SEM images indicate the Li 2 CoGeO 4 particles have a particle size of less than 1 micrometer and about 500 nm. The x-ray diffraction confirms a crystalline composition having peaks corresponding to the formation of Li 2 CoGeO 4 . The EDX data in conjunction with the ICP data of FIG. 5 confirms the formation of a material that includes Li, Co, Ge and O. Additionally, the material formed includes a ratio of Co:Ge near 1:1.

Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) of Li 2 CoGeO 4

Li 2 CoGeO 4 particles were combined with carbon black using nafion as a binder and then drop casted onto a glassy carbon electrode. To verify the catalytic activity, cyclic voltammetry experiments were conducted.

A rotating disk electrode apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6 , having a polished glassy carbon substrate was cast with an active material having 5:1:1 by weight—Li 2 CoGeO 4 :carbon black:nafion. The voltage testing was performed at a rotating speed of 1600 rpm. An electrolyte of 0.4M NaH 2 PO 4 0.6M Na 2 SO 4 pH 7 (O 2 saturated) was utilized in the cell. Potentiostatic measurements of 300-500 mV overpotential range for water oxidation was performed in 50 mV/steps with each step held until steady-state current is reached.

Tafel plot measurements, as shown in FIG. 7 of Li 2 CoGeO 4 show that Li 2 CoGeO 4 has significantly better performance per unit of surface area than CoWO 4 , as well as comparable performance to IrO 2 under the same conditions and applied overpotential. The performance characteristics of the Li 2 CoGeO 4 at a pH of 7, a desirable range of pH for an electrochemical cell for splitting water indicates an improved electrochemical catalyst for splitting water than may be produced in a large scale using a hydrothermal reaction.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples described above. Examples described are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Changes therein, other combinations of elements, and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the claims.