Understanding degradation mechanisms in SrIrO${}_3$ oxygen evolution electrocatalysts. Chemical and structural microscopy at the nanoscale

Designing acid-stable oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts is key to developing sustainable energy technologies such as polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers but has proven challenging due to the high applied anodic potentials and corrosive electrolyte. This work showcases advanced nanoscale microscopy techniques supported by complementary structural and chemical characterization to develop a fundamental understanding of stability in promising SrIrO${}_3$ thin film electrocatalyst materials. Cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy illustrates atomic-scale bulk and surface structure, while secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging using a helium ion microscope provides the nanoscale lateral elemental distribution at the surface. After accelerated degradation tests under anodic potential, the SrIrO${}_3$ film thins and roughens, but the lateral distribution of Sr and Ir remains homogeneous. A layer-wise dissolution mechanism is hypothesized, wherein anodic potential causes the IrO${}_x$-rich surface to dissolve and be regenerated by Sr leaching. The characterization approaches utilized herein and mechanistic insights into SrIrO${}_3$ are translatable to a wide range of catalyst systems. (© 2021 Wiley‐VCH GmbH)