Rapid and Facile\nPreparation of Carbon Tape Electrodes\nfor the Evaluation of Metal Oxides as OER Catalysts

While solid-state syntheses continue\nto advance, so do\nthe methodologies\nrequired to make a robust working electrode with such materials. These\ninclude vapor deposition, electrodeposition, and single layer deposition.\nAlthough these avenues provide incredibly precise electrodes, it consequently\nwidens the gap between state of the art and practicality in traditional\nlaboratory facilities, especially with less specialized equipment\nand limited time in the undergraduate laboratory. Carbon tape electrodes\nbridge this gap by providing appropriate stability and ease of preparation.\nCarbon tape electrodes are shown herein to be effective in surveying\nmetal oxide powders as Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) catalysts in\na straightforward inorganic chemistry laboratory experiment. The electrodes’\nversatility allows for the catalysts to be comparatively benchmarked\nagainst one another while also observing the pH dependence of water\nsplitting. These electrodes show robust, consistent behavior under\naqueous and nonaqueous conditions that facilitates their use as a\ngeneral-purpose electrode for solids, helping to overcome a longstanding\naversion to the use of electrochemistry in undergraduate inorganic\nchemistry laboratories.