Effect on Hydrogen Evolution Properties of PtCuLaO_X Membrane Electrode by Oxygen Flow and Acid Treatment

Abstract:

In order to reduce production cost of making H₂, one of the key points was to reduce Pt loading in Pt/C catalytic electrode. In our study, a new type of Pt/C membrane electrodes, PtCuLaO_x/C heterogeneous structure, in which with developing different flow of O₂, on the surface of carbonaceous substrates were manufactured by Ion Beam Sputtering (IBS) technology. These membrane electrodes were treated by annealing in vacuum furnace, and by different time in different concentration H₂SO₄ solution. The hydrogen evolution properties of these electrodes were tested by tri-electrode system, and were calculated results of their exchange current density (i₀), decomposition voltage (E_d) and active specific surface area (ESA). It was found that PtCuLaO_x heterogeneous membrane electrodes with Pt loading less than 0.041mg•cm^-2 (the electrode area) undergone treatment, whose E_d, i₀ and ESA was -0.223(V vs SCE), 4.562mA•cm^-2 and 46.2811m2•g^-1 respectively in balanced condition.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 399-401)
• Pages: 1439-1442
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.399-401.1439
• Online since: November 2011
• Authors: Bin Yang, Neng Huang
• Keywords: Acid Treatment, Hydrogen Evolution, Membrane Electrodes, O₂/Ar Flow, PtCuLaO_x

References

[1] A. A. Anani, Z. Mao, R. E. White, et al.: J. Electrochem Soc. Vol. 137 (1990), p.35

[2] M. J. Escudero, X. R. Nóvoa, T. Rodrigo et al.: J. Power Sources, Vol. 106, (2002), p.196

[3] H. T. Kim, K. Y. Song, V. R. Tatyana, et al: J. Power Sources, Vol. 193 (2009), p.515

[4] R. G. Freitas and E. C. Pereira: Electrochimica Acta., Vol. 54, (2009), p.1

[5] P. Strasser, S. Koh, T. Anniyev, et al.: Nature Chemistry. 2 (2010), p.454