Active and stable graphene supporting trimetallic alloy-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution by seawater splitting
The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), adopting seawater as an electrolyte solution, is a promising and more sustainable alternative for the production of hydrogen, yet requiring more economic, highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts than the current ones. Herein, the synthesis of a Ni, Ru, Ir-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Electrochemistry Communications |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248120300114 |
| _version_ | 1818909615239200768 |
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| author | Maria Sarno Eleonora Ponticorvo Davide Scarpa |
| author_facet | Maria Sarno Eleonora Ponticorvo Davide Scarpa |
| author_sort | Maria Sarno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), adopting seawater as an electrolyte solution, is a promising and more sustainable alternative for the production of hydrogen, yet requiring more economic, highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts than the current ones. Herein, the synthesis of a Ni, Ru, Ir-based and graphene-supported nano-structured catalyst through an easily scalable, cost-effective, surfactant-free approach has been proposed. XRD, SEM, TEM images and EDX maps showed the formation of trimetallic NiRuIr alloy nanoparticles (average diameter: 8 nm) supported on a few-layer graphene. After characterization, the HER stability and activity of the sample were tested in a 0.5 M H2SO4, in a KCl neutral solution as well as in real seawater. In the acidic electrolyte environment a 0.06 V overpotential was maintained even after 11,000 cycles and the Tafel slope recorded was very low (28 mV/dec). In the neutral solution a very low overpotential (0.10 V) and a low Tafel slope (72 mV/dec) were also obtained. Furthermore, in real seawater the sample exhibits a Tafel slope of 48 mV/dec, maintains a low overpotential of 0.08 V for 250 cycles and a constant current density for 200 h of test without significant losses and with almost a 100% hydrogen production efficiency. The results obtained proved the remarkable HER performance of the synthesized electrocatalyst, especially in real seawater in virtue of synergistic alloying effects and the presence of the graphene support. Keywords: Trimetallic alloy, NiRuIr alloy, Seawater, Hydrogen evolution reaction, High stability, High H2 production |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:29:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a2cac9720014982b72c2dc6c9327b46 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1388-2481 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:29:43Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Electrochemistry Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a2cac9720014982b72c2dc6c9327b462022-12-21T20:03:22ZengElsevierElectrochemistry Communications1388-24812020-02-01111Active and stable graphene supporting trimetallic alloy-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution by seawater splittingMaria Sarno0Eleonora Ponticorvo1Davide Scarpa2Department of Physics “E.R. Caianiello”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy; NANO_MATES, Research Centre for Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology at the University of Salerno, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy; Corresponding author at: Department of Physics “E.R. Caianiello”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy.NANO_MATES, Research Centre for Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology at the University of Salerno, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyThe hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), adopting seawater as an electrolyte solution, is a promising and more sustainable alternative for the production of hydrogen, yet requiring more economic, highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts than the current ones. Herein, the synthesis of a Ni, Ru, Ir-based and graphene-supported nano-structured catalyst through an easily scalable, cost-effective, surfactant-free approach has been proposed. XRD, SEM, TEM images and EDX maps showed the formation of trimetallic NiRuIr alloy nanoparticles (average diameter: 8 nm) supported on a few-layer graphene. After characterization, the HER stability and activity of the sample were tested in a 0.5 M H2SO4, in a KCl neutral solution as well as in real seawater. In the acidic electrolyte environment a 0.06 V overpotential was maintained even after 11,000 cycles and the Tafel slope recorded was very low (28 mV/dec). In the neutral solution a very low overpotential (0.10 V) and a low Tafel slope (72 mV/dec) were also obtained. Furthermore, in real seawater the sample exhibits a Tafel slope of 48 mV/dec, maintains a low overpotential of 0.08 V for 250 cycles and a constant current density for 200 h of test without significant losses and with almost a 100% hydrogen production efficiency. The results obtained proved the remarkable HER performance of the synthesized electrocatalyst, especially in real seawater in virtue of synergistic alloying effects and the presence of the graphene support. Keywords: Trimetallic alloy, NiRuIr alloy, Seawater, Hydrogen evolution reaction, High stability, High H2 productionhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248120300114 |
| spellingShingle | Maria Sarno Eleonora Ponticorvo Davide Scarpa Active and stable graphene supporting trimetallic alloy-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution by seawater splitting Electrochemistry Communications |
| title | Active and stable graphene supporting trimetallic alloy-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution by seawater splitting |
| title_full | Active and stable graphene supporting trimetallic alloy-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution by seawater splitting |
| title_fullStr | Active and stable graphene supporting trimetallic alloy-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution by seawater splitting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Active and stable graphene supporting trimetallic alloy-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution by seawater splitting |
| title_short | Active and stable graphene supporting trimetallic alloy-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution by seawater splitting |
| title_sort | active and stable graphene supporting trimetallic alloy based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution by seawater splitting |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248120300114 |
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