Enhancement of electrochemical activity of Raney-type NiZn coatings by modifying with PtRu binary deposits: Application for alkaline water electrolysis

Solmaz R., Doner A., DOGRUBAS M., Erdogan I. Y., KARDAŞ G.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY, vol.41, no.3, pp.1432-1440, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 41 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.11.027
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1432-1440
  • Keywords: Electrochemical deposition, PtRu-Modified electrodes, Electrolysis, Hydrogen production, HYDROGEN EVOLUTION REACTION, TUNGSTEN CARBIDE, ELECTROCATALYTIC PROPERTIES, GALVANIC REPLACEMENT, CATALYTIC-ACTIVITY, NICKEL DEPOSITS, ELECTRODES, SURFACE, CARBON, KINETICS
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study presents electrochemical preparation and characterization of PtRu-modified Cu/Ni/NiZn electrodes (Cu/Ni/NiZn-PtRu) as cathode materials for alkaline water electrolysis. The electrodes were characterized using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Their electrochemical activities as cathode materials for alkaline water electrolysis were evaluated with the help of current potential curves. The results showed that the PtRu-modified layers have porous structures with relatively low Pt and Ru chemical compositions. The modification of the alkaline leached Cu/Ni/NiZn surface by Pt and/or Ru enhances the electrochemical activity of the electrode. Their catalytic activity depends on the molar ratios of Pt and Ru; the PtRu binary deposit with the percentage weight ratio of approximately 56:44 exhibits the highest hydrogen evolution activity among the studied electrodes. The enhanced hydrogen evolution activity of the PtRu-modified electrodes was related to the porous surface and/or a possible synergistic effect between the metals. Copyright (c) 2015, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.