Electrosynthesis of nanocomposite materials for electrocatalysis

A review of the studies carried out during the last decade on the electrosynthesis of oxide–matrix composite materials for electrocatalysis is presented. The anodic deposition of oxide–matrix composites from electrolytes containing either Pb2+ or Tl+ ions and catalytic (nano)particles in suspension produces electrocatalytic materials especially suitable for anodic processes (oxygen evolution reaction) owing to the oxides stability towards oxidative degradation. The embedding of conducting catalytic particles may have a major effect on the nucleation and growth of the matrix, leading to very rough or porous deposits. The content in catalytic dispersed phase cannot be increased at will. However, dispersed phase volume fractions of the order of 0.1–0.2, attained without difficulty, are high enough to ensure marked electrocatalytic effects. In comparison with the pure matrices, composite anodes exhibit much lower overpotantials and lower Tafel slopes, comparable to those of electrocatalytic materials produced by other methods.