Chemically Resistant, Oxidic Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Development During Alkaline Water Electrolysis Based on Bacoo3-5, Method for Producing Said Electrocatalyst, Anode Comprising Said Electrocatalyst, and Catalytically Active and Chemically Stable Reaction Product Thereof

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This patent describes a chemically resistant, electrically conductive mixed oxide electrocatalyst, specifically a Ti-doped perovskite oxide (BaCoO3) combined with cobalt oxide (Co3O4), which is designed for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during alkaline water electrolysis. The invention also covers the catalyst's production method, its application as an anode, and its transformation into a catalytically active and stable amorphous reaction product under operation. The catalyst offers improved chemical stability, high current density, and low overpotential compared to existing materials, making it especially suitable for large-scale hydrogen production or metal-air batteries.

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• Anodes for alkaline water electrolyzers used in large-scale hydrogen production by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
• Electrocatalysts in metal-air batteries, such as zinc-air or lithium-air batteries, improving rechargeability and efficiency.
• Energy storage systems for renewable energy sources (solar, wind) by converting excess electricity into hydrogen, then releasing energy via fuel cells when needed.
• Industrial-scale applications where durable and efficient oxygen-evolving electrodes are required, such as in chemical plants or green ammonia synthesis.
• Research and development in advanced electrolyzer and battery technologies, seeking alternatives to precious metal-based (Ir, Ru, Pt) catalysts.

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• Significantly improved chemical stability and lifespan—up to eight times longer than commonly used perovskite catalysts—leading to lower maintenance and replacement costs.
• Low overpotential and high current density enable more energy-efficient electrolysis, reducing operational energy costs.
• Reduces reliance on expensive precious metals (like Iridium or Ruthenium), lowering material costs and supporting scalability.
• Compatible with standard electrode fabrication and industrial processes, with flexible production methods such as spin coating or spray deposition.
• The amorphous catalytically active phase generated during operation maintains high performance, ensuring stable long-term operation even under harsh alkaline conditions.
• Enables higher efficiency and durability in both energy conversion (electrolysis) and storage (metal-air batteries), advancing the practicality of renewable energy integration.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a two-phase electrically conductive perovskite-based mixed oxide of the structure ABO3 with A = Ba and B = Co, additionally comprising 5-45 at%, preferably 15 to 30 at%, particularly preferably 25 at% Co3O4 (at% Co relative to the total number of Co atoms in the perovskite ABO3) and 0.5 to 3 at%, preferably 1 to 2.5 at%, particularly preferably 2 at% Ti as dopant (the at% being relative to the total number of B cations in the perovskite ABO3). The mixed oxide preferably has the stoichiometric formula BaCo1-xTixO3-δ:Co3O4 with x = 0.005 to 0.03, preferably x = 0.01 to 0.025, particularly preferably x = 0.02, wherein δ defines the holes in the perovskite structure and lies in the range of approximately 0.1 to 0.8, preferably 0.3 to 0.7, particularly preferably approximately 0.5 to 0.6. The invention further relates to a catalyst and to an anode that comprise the mixed oxide, to the use of the catalyst in alkaline water electrolysis or in metal-air batteries, and to the use of the mixed oxide to produce an anode for alkaline water electrolysis or metal-air batteries. The invention further relates to production methods for a precursor solution for the mixed oxide and for the anode according to the invention, and to an amorphous mixed oxide having a ratio Co:Ba of approximately 2:1 and a TTB (tetragonal tungsten bronze)-like short-range structure, obtainable by using the mixed oxide according to the invention as a catalyst in the oxygen development reaction of the alkaline water electrolysis, said amorphous product arising as a result of the leaching out of Ba.