Abstract: High-performance and low-cost iridium oxide oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst is the key for the large-scale application of proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis technology. The factors affecting the performance of iridium oxide catalyst were analyzed, and main preparation methods of iridium oxide catalyst were described, including Adams Fusion method, liquid phase reduction method, soft-hard template method, and other advanced preparation methods. Two evaluation methods [rotating disk electrode (RDE) and membrane electrode assembly (MEA)] for iridium oxide catalysts were compared in order to provide some references for the development of iridium catalysts with high activity and high stability.

Key words: proton exchange membrane, water electrolysis, oxygen evolution reaction, iridium oxide, electrocatalyst