Title
A novel sputtered Pd mesh architecture as an advanced electrocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen production
Date Issued
30 July 2016
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
De Lucas-Consuegra A.
De La Osa A.R.
Calcerrada A.B.
Horwat D.
Universidade de Brasília
Publisher(s)
Elsevier B.V.
Abstract
This study reports the preparation, characterization and testing of a sputtered Pd mesh-like anode as an advanced electrocatalyst for H2 production from alkaline ethanol solutions in an Alkaline Membrane Electrolyzer (AEM). Pd anodic catalyst is prepared by magnetron sputtering technique onto a microfiber carbon paper support. Scanning Electron Microscopy images reveal that the used preparation technique enables to cover the surface of the carbon microfibers exposed to the Pd target, leading to a continuous network that also maintains part of the original carbon paper macroporosity. Such novel anodic architecture (organic binder free) presents an excellent electro-chemical performance, with a maximum current density of 700 mA cm-2 at 1.3 V, and, concomitantly, a large H2 production rate with low energy requirement compared to water electrolysis. Potassium hydroxide emerges as the best electrolyte, whereas temperature exerts the expected promotional effect up to 90°C. On the other hand, a 1 mol L-1 ethanol solution is enough to guarantee an efficient fuel supply without any mass transfer limitation. The proposed system also demonstrates to remain stable over 150 h of operation along five consecutives cycles, producing highly pure H2 (99.999%) at the cathode and potassium acetate as the main anodic product.
Start page
248
End page
256
Volume
321
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Ingeniería, Tecnología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84966397628
Source
Journal of Power Sources
ISSN of the container
03787753
Sponsor(s)
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus