Water oxidation electrocatalyst: A new application area for Ruthner powder waste material

Ruthner powder is a by-product of the steel hot-rolling process. This study introduces a new application area for this waste material by investigating its activity for the oxygen evolution reaction. Ruthner powder with the α-Fe2O3 phase structure was deposited on the carbon paper substrates using the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process to fabricate the electrodes. The effect of the concentration of cetrimonium bromide ([CTAB]) and the Ruthner powder ([RP]) in the EPD cell on the morphology and activity of the electrodes were investigated by SEM, LSV, and EIS techniques. The results revealed the formation of a homogenous layer on the carbon paper when [CTAB] and [RP] were respectively 0.4g.l−1 and 0.2g.l−1. The obtained electrode showed the best activity among all fabricated electrodes. In particular, its onset overpotential and overpotential at a current density of 10mA.cm−2 were respectively 85% and 25% lower than those of bare carbon electrodes.