Development and Study of Tantalum and Niobium Carbides as Electrocatalyst Supports for the Oxygen Electrode for PEM Water Electrolysis at Elevated Temperatures

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is a prospective method of producing hydrogen. We focused on one of its issues – the lack of a suitable support material for the anode electrocatalyst. TaC and NbC were studied as possible electrocatalyst supports for the PEM water electrolysis. Resistance to oxidation of the TaC and NbC was investigated by exposing them to air at 84 and 150 °C. Subsequently, their electrical conductivity was measured as the indicator of oxidation. Change in specific surface area and conductivity was measured after different periods of ball milling. We found that the TaC was significantly more resistant to oxidation than the NbC. Eventually, both materials retained relatively high electrical conductivity even with the oxidized surface. TaC can thus be recommended as an electrocatalyst support for the oxygen evolution reaction and both materials are proposed to be tested as alternative electrocatalyst supports for the hydrogen evolution reaction