Oxidized Mild Steel S235: An Efficient Anode for Electrocatalytically Initiated Water Splitting.
The surface of steel S235 was oxidized by Cl2 gas and checked for its electrocatalytic efficiency regarding oxygen formation in aqueous solution. If exposed to humid Cl2 gas for 110 min, steel S235 became an electrocatalyst that exhibits an overpotential for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of 462 mV at 1 mA cm(-2) at pH 7. The OER activity of the same sample at pH 13 was moderate (347 mV overpotential at 2.0 mA cm(-2) current density) in comparison with OER electrocatalysts developed recently. Potential versus time plots measured at a constant current demonstrate the sufficient stability of all samples under catalysis conditions at pH 7 and 13 for tens of hours. High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectra could be reasonably resolved with the proviso that Fe2 O3 , FeO(OH), MnO(OH), and Mn2 O3 are the predominant Fe and Mn species on the surface of the oxidized steel S235.
Institute of Chemistry of New Materials and Center of Physics and Chemistry of New Materials, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, 49076 Osnabrück (Germany). helmut.schaefer@uos.de.
Helmut
H
Schäfer
Fachbereich Physik, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastr. 7, 49076 Osnabrück (Germany).
Karsten
K
Küpper
Fachbereich Physik, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastr. 7, 49076 Osnabrück (Germany).
Joachim
J
Wollschläger
Institute of Materials Research, Materials Mechanics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht (Germany).
Nikolai
N
Kashaev
School of Biological, Biomedical & Environmental Studies, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, HU6 7RX, Hull (UK).
Jörg
J
Hardege
Institute of Chemistry of New Materials and Center of Physics and Chemistry of New Materials, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, 49076 Osnabrück (Germany).
Lorenz
L
Walder
Institute of Chemistry of New Materials and Center of Physics and Chemistry of New Materials, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, 49076 Osnabrück (Germany).
Seyyed
S
Mohsen Beladi-Mousavi
Institute of Chemistry of New Materials and Center of Physics and Chemistry of New Materials, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, 49076 Osnabrück (Germany).
Brigitte
B
Hartmann-Azanza
Institute of Chemistry of New Materials and Center of Physics and Chemistry of New Materials, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, 49076 Osnabrück (Germany).
Martin
M
Steinhart
Institute of Chemistry of New Materials and Center of Physics and Chemistry of New Materials, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, 49076 Osnabrück (Germany).
Shamaila
S
Sadaf
Institute of Materials Research, Materials Mechanics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht (Germany).
Falk
F
Dorn
electrochemistry; iron; manganese; renewable resources; water splitting