Journal Article

PUBDB-2026-01706

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Platinum oxide formation under oxygen evolution reaction conditions

Jacobse, L. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Schuster, R.Extern* ; Kohantorabi, M.DESY* ; Dolling, D. S. ; Pfrommer, J.Extern* ; Deng, X. ; Weber, T.Extern* ; Gutowski, O.DESY* ; Dippel, A.-C.DESY* ; Brummel, O.Extern* ; Lykhach, Y.Extern* ; Noei, H.DESY* ; Over, H.Extern* ; Libuda, J.Extern* ; Vonk, V.XFEL.EU*DESY* ; Stierle, A.XFEL.EU*DESY*

2026
Springer Nature [London]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s41467-026-72954-z  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2026-01706

Abstract: Electrocatalyst degradation, often caused by oxidative processes, forms a large barrier for the wide-spread application of electrolysers and fuel cells, which are crucial for a sustainable energy society. A detailed understanding of the catalyst surface structure under oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions is, therefore, required to design more stable catalysts. Here, we study the oxidation of a Pt(111) model electrode under operando conditions combining High-Energy Surface X-ray Diffraction (HE-SXRD) with a Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE) in a unique experimental setup. This approach allows us to follow the atomic structure of the electrode-electrolyte interface under oxygen evolution reaction conditions under hitherto unexplored potential regimes. We find that the Pt(111) surface gets electro-oxidized in a layer-by-layer fashion. From ex situ X-ray Reflectivity (XRR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) measurements we find that a sub-nm thick, PtO$_2$ oxide film is forming, which deactivates the surface and leads to surface roughening. Our results provide important insights into the electrochemical oxidation of platinum electrocatalysts and resolves crucial differences to thermal oxidation processes.

Note: 05K2016-HEXCHEMollaborative Research Center SFB 1452 (Catalysis at Liquid Interfaces, project 431791331), the Research Unit FOR 1878 (Functional Molecular Structures on Complex Oxide Surfaces, project 214951840), and further projects (431733372, 453560721)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Nanolab (FS-NL)
2. DOOR-User (DOOR ; HAS-User)
3. PETRA-D (FS-PETRA-D)

Research Program(s):

1. 632 - Materials – Quantum, Complex and Functional Materials (POF4-632) (POF4-632)
2. 6G3 - PETRA III (DESY) (POF4-6G3) (POF4-6G3)
3. FS-Proposal: I-20190341 (I-20190341) (I-20190341)
4. FS-Proposal: I-20200593 (I-20200593) (I-20200593)
5. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)214951840 - FOR 1878: funCOS - Funktionale molekulare Strukturen auf komplexen Oxidoberflächen (214951840) (214951840)
6. SFB 1452 MGK - Integriertes Graduiertenkolleg CLINTiRTG „Wissenschaft und Technologie der Katalyse“ (MGK) (457054490) (457054490)
7. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)431733372 - Komplexe Modellkatalysatoren für die selektive Umwandlung erneuerbarer Brennstoffe (431733372) (431733372)
8. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)453560721 - EMOCAT – Elektrifizierte Modellkatalyse: Ein wissensbasierter Zugang zu neuen oxid-stabilisierten Elektrokatalysatoren (453560721) (453560721)

Experiment(s):

1. PETRA Beamline P07 (PETRA III)
2. DESY NanoLab: X-Ray Diffraction

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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